Photo: UNIFIL/Pasqual Gorriz

The Israeli Army continues its journey of genocidal attacks in flagrant disregard of international humanitarian law and the calls of several nations for a ceasefire. After massacring the Palestinian people in Gaza – a situation that still persists with new bombings –, the advance on the territory of Lebanon with the pretext of attacking Hezbollah has caused apprehension in the global community, even more so after the attacks against the soldiers of the peacekeeping mission of the UN, the blue helmets of Unifil (in Portuguese Finul, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon).

By forcibly invading the peacekeepers’ base, the Israeli Army provoked an immediate reaction from several countries. The Foreign Ministers of Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy published a joint statement on Monday (14) expressing concern and calling for attacks on peacekeepers to be stopped immediately.

The note recalls that attacking Unifil goes against Resolution 1701 of the United Nations Security Council, which establishes the Blue Line created to bring resolution to the Lebanon War and where soldiers of different nationalities remain for the stability of the region.

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Even though they show concern, since they have soldiers in the mission, these countries must make a more in-depth assessment, as, at the same time as they ask that UN bases not be attacked, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have supported the war Israeli government and continued to send weapons, even though they indicate a reduction.

The French government stated that it does not supply weapons to Israel and asked that other nations also follow this path. Despite this, French NGOs demonstrate that components that can be used to manufacture instruments of war continue to be sold to the Israelis.

The United Nations Security Council also issued a statement, adopted by the 15 members in consensus, calling for the protection of UN mission facilities and respect for resolution 1701.

Brazil had already expressed its condemnation of the attacks in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Attack on peace

Unifil maintains 10,058 soldiers of various nationalities in South Lebanon in 29 bases to maintain stability in the region. However, the UN mission was shaken by explosions near one of its bases, which was forcibly invaded by two Israeli tanks last weekend.

This attack can be interpreted as a threat from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He publicly denies the invasion, but asks the blue helmets to leave the region. His intention is to attack the location without “international consideration” for possible war crimes.

The incident was not enough to scare away the soldiers. According to the Under-Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the peacekeeping mission will continue in South Lebanon, as established by the UN Security Council, in an action confirmed by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

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This can be considered another episode of Netanyahu against the international community. The prime minister has already aimed his artillery at Guterres, who is asking him to withdraw his soldiers from Lebanon.

At the beginning of October, his government declared that the secretary general persona non grata and informed that his entry into Israel is prohibited.

In a statement to journalists, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, highlighted that the attacks against the UN peacekeeping mission by Israel “violate international law, including international humanitarian law, and may constitute war crimes.” .

*With information from international agencies

Source: vermelho.org.br



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