Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, has condemned the targeting of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, by the Israel Defence Forces.
His remarks highlight the EU’s firm stance on protecting UN missions amid escalating tensions in the region, Reutersreports.
“Such attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law and are totally unacceptable,” Borrell stated in a message released on behalf of the EU on Sunday night. “These attacks must stop immediately.”
“The EU condemns all attacks against UN missions,” he added.
Borrell expressed “particularly grave concern regarding the attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces against UNIFIL, which left several peacekeepers wounded.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has disputed some UN accounts, claiming that peacekeepers were providing “human shields” for Hezbollah militants amid increased hostilities.
In his statement, Borrell emphasised that “all actors” in the conflict have the obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property.
He concluded, “We urgently await explanations and a thorough investigation from the Israeli authorities about the attacks against UNIFIL, which plays a fundamental role in the stability of South Lebanon.”