Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls for the urgent evacuation of United Nations peacekeepers from southern Lebanon, directly appealing to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Netanyahu insists that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) must be removed from Hezbollah strongholds and combat zones to ensure their safety.
Recent incidents involving IDF fire hitting UNIFIL bases have resulted in injuries to peacekeepers. Netanyahu emphasizes the need to relocate the peacekeepers to prevent them from being used as human shields by Hezbollah during military operations.
US and European countries criticize Israel
The United States and European leaders have criticized Israel for the attacks, but Netanyahu argues that the focus should be on Hezbollah’s use of UNIFIL as a shield. Italy and Ireland also express their concerns over the safety of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.
Netanyahu’s strong stance on the issue reflects escalating tensions between Israel and the UN, with the Foreign Minister declaring Guterres as persona non grata. The Israeli public shows overwhelming support for this decision.
Source: Reuters