Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the United Nations on Sunday to evacuate troops in its UNIFIL peacekeeping force from combat areas in Lebanon.
Netanyahu said the military had asked the UN to evacuate the soldiers repeatedly, adding that their presence in the area made them hostages of Hezbollah.
UN peacekeepers in Lebanon reported that Israeli tanks breached a gate to enter a Blue Helmet position on the Lebanese side of the border on Sunday, following an incident the previous day that blocked their movement.
According to UNIFIL, “At around 4:30 am, while peacekeepers were in shelters, two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the position’s main gate and forcibly entered the position” in the Ramia area, before departing 45 minutes later. This occurred after Israeli soldiers had previously halted a crucial UNIFIL logistical movement near Mais al-Jabal, preventing its passage.
In a separate statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres persona non grata, barring him from entering Israel.
He criticised Guterres for failing to condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel and accused him of exhibiting antisemitic and anti-Israel behaviour.
He highlighted that a recent poll showed 87% of the Israeli public supported this decision, suggesting widespread dissatisfaction with Guterres’ actions.
Katz stated, “Guterres can continue seeking support from UN member states, but the decision will not change,” showing that the Israeli government remains unimpressed with the UN and a deepening divide between the global body and the country who is at war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Here Are The Latest Updates On The Ongoing Tussle Between Israel And the UN:
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has told her Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon are unacceptable.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the UN chief on Sunday to move peacekeepers deployed in south Lebanon out of “harm’s way”, saying Hezbollah was using them as “human shields”.
- UN peacekeepers in Lebanon said Israeli tanks broke through a gate to enter a Blue Helmet position on the Lebanese side of the border Sunday, after blocking their movement the previous day.
- UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Sunday asked for explanations from the Israeli army over what they said were “shocking violations” against their force, including forcing entry into one of their positions.
- Iran‘s top diplomat said Sunday there would be “no red lines” in defending the country’s people and interests, but efforts would continue to “contain an all-out war in our region”.
- Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned Sunday his Israeli counterpart’s call to UN chief Antonio Guterres to remove peacekeepers from the Lebanese side of the border, where clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli troops have intensified.
- Israeli warplanes hit a 100-year-old mosque in a village near the border on Sunday, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) said.
- The Israeli military said its 36th division continued “targeted and limited operational activity” against Hezbollah.
- Hamas condemned Israel’s military campaign in northern Gaza on Sunday, as Israeli forces focused their operations around Jabalia in the Palestinian territory.
- Pope Francis asked Sunday for “respect” for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon who have accused the Israeli military of deliberately firing on their positions.
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