Israel and UN at Odds After Peacekeepers Targeted
UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon holding their flag (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Israel has recently come under fire for targeting UN peacekeepers operating in Southern Lebanon. The Guardian reports that Israel is being accused of at least three international law violations. The UK, Italy, France and Germany have released a conjoined statement criticizing Israel, stating that the attacks violated international law.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established after Israel attacked Lebanon in 1978. It was created in an attempt to prevent future conflict among the two states. Their role has been updated multiple times after Israel’s 18-year occupation of Southern Lebanon (1982-2000) and the war with Hezbollah in 2006. UNIFIL monitors movements along the border between Israel and Lebanon and is also responsible for helping the Lebanese national army clear the UN-designated “blue line” – which has been proven to be ineffective since Hezbollah controls most of southern Lebanon.
Israel has had tense relationships with both UNIFIL and UNRWA- another group within the UN that helps provide health, aid and education to Palestinians. Israel is in disagreement with the entire UN in general, claiming that the UN endorses anti-semetism. Israel claims that UNRWA and UNIFIL are helping Hezbollah and Hamas conduct operations against Israel, including the October 7th attack.
Furthermore, Israel previously attacked the UN’s schools and medical centers, most likely due to the UN's role in protecting Palestinians. Israel has also named UN secretary-general Antononio Guterres persona non grata, banning him from the country.
UN peacekeeping forces claimed that Israeli tanks forcefully entered UN positions and destroyed the main gate of a post near the Israeli border. Two hours later, 15 peacekeepers were reportedly injured as rounds were fired nearby.
Before this incident, five other peacekeepers had also been injured, with two Indonesian peacekeepers being wounded after falling from a tower in Naqoura after being targeted by Israeli tanks – although it is unclear if Israel is fully responsible. Two other UNIFIL were injured in another incident which the IDF claims to be investigating. Andrea Tenenti, a spokesman for UNIFIL, has said that the attacks appear to have been deliberate.
The UN has also claimed that UNIFIL positions have been attacked 20 times since Israel's ground operations in Southern Lebanon started on October 1st.
Benjamin Netanyahu has denied that UN troops were purposefully targeted, also claiming that Israel had previously warned the UN to move out of the way as “Israel has every right to defend itself against Hezbollah and will continue to do so.” He also claimed that Hezbollah was using UNIFIL positions as cover. On the other hand, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin is accusing Israel of issuing the warning to leave as an attempt to prevent people from knowing what is happening in Lebanon, and in an attempt to undermine the UN.
The UN security council also adopted a statement that urged all parties to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers, also advocating for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni, originally an avid supporter of Israel, has strongly condemned the attacks on the UN and on Lebanon. Meloni also told the lower house of parliament that she was against the removal of UN troops as it would diminish the mission of the UN.
Rescue workers at site of Israeli airstrike in Qana village, South Lebanon (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Apart from their attacks on UNIFIL, Israel has also campaigned against the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency (UNRWA) since they acknowledged Palestinian refugees’ “right to return”to their homes lost to Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. They have also claimed that UNRWA was involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks; but after an investigation, it was found that only nine of the agency’s 13,000 employees might have actually been involved. The head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, claims that the goal of Israel’s condemnation of UNRWA is to prevent Palestinian self-determination.
Nonetheless, the UNRWA has claimed that it is close to a “breaking point” due to financial complications, political threats and difficulties in operations — including the need for increased aid.
Israel’s condemnation and undermining of UN groups greatly complicates the stressing effort to provide humanitarian aid in critical zones – especially in Gaza and Lebanon. The prevention of aid deliveries further complicates efforts to bring regional conflicts to an end.