French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday condemned Israel’s “deliberate” targeting of United Nations peacekeepers and said France would not tolerate such behavior after two peacekeepers were injured in Lebanon, France 24 reported .
Earlier, France summoned the Israeli ambassador to discuss attacks on three U.N. bases in southern Lebanon, which the French foreign ministry called a “serious violation of international law.” According to France 24, the ministry added that “the Israeli authorities must provide an explanation.”
Two Indonesian peacekeepers were injured when Israeli troops allegedly opened fire on a watchtower at the UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL was established by the Security Council in March 1978 following Israel’s “invasion” of Lebanon.
UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL has operated along the “Blue Line” between Lebanon and Israel since the 1970s, and the UN Security Council extended its mandate for another year in August.
Israel withdrew its troops from Lebanon in 2000. In the absence of agreed borders, the United Nations established a 120-kilometer withdrawal line known as the “Blue Line” that UNIFIL monitors and patrols.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said on Thursday that an Israeli tank opened fire at the UNIFIL headquarters watchtower in the border town of Naqura, causing two peacekeepers to fall and injuring two, Al Jazeera reported.
UNIFIL condemned the attack, calling it a “serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
The peacekeeping organization, which was founded in 1978 and consists of about 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries, said Israeli forces “deliberately” opened fire on its border positions.
UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix has warned of growing concerns about the security of UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon amid an Israeli ground invasion.
According to CNN, Lacroix said in a briefing to the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that hostilities between Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon are “increasingly worrisome” and make ” Peacekeepers are at serious risk.”
“The safety of peacekeepers is now increasingly under threat.”
As the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, Israel continues to expand its strikes across Lebanon.
An Israeli attack on a densely populated area of Beirut on Thursday killed at least 22 people and injured about 117 others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
India on Friday expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line, which has separated Lebanon and Israel since the 1970s, and said the inviolability of United Nations premises must be respected by all.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that appropriate measures must be taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mission.
“We are concerned about the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the MEA said, commenting on recent developments in southern Lebanon.
“All must respect the inviolability of United Nations premises and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of United Nations peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mission,” the statement added. (Ani)