Two Israeli tanks "forced entry" into a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon .
Fifteen peacekeepers were intoxicated by smoke that entered the camp, emitted by shots fired by the IDF : "Despite wearing protective masks, fifteen peacekeepers suffered effects, including skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions, after the smoke entered the camp, and are receiving treatment," Unifil reported.
In addition, "yesterday , Israeli army soldiers blocked a crucial UNIFIL logistical movement near Meiss el-Jabal, preventing its passage. This crucial movement could not be carried out," the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon said.
There are two different incidents reported by the UN contingent. One this morning, with the irruption of two Israeli tanks in a position in Ramyah, and one yesterday, in which "the IDF soldiers stopped a critical logistics movement of the UNIFIL near Meiss ej Jebel, denying it passage".
The statement stressed that " for the fourth time in a matter of days, we remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety of United Nations personnel and property and to respect at all times the inviolability of United Nations premises. Trespassing and entering a UN position is a further flagrant violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 1701. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law. UNIFIL's mandate provides for its freedom of movement within its area of operations and any restriction to this is a violation of Resolution 1701. "
The UNIFIL statement comes just minutes after Netanyahu's warning, asking the UN peacekeeping mission to leave the "Blue Line" on the border between Israel and Lebanon so as not to put the lives of the peacekeepers at risk .
And the UN doubles down: " Israel's attacks against Unifil could be war crimes ," says Secretary General Antonio Guterres. "Unifil personnel and facilities should never be attacked. Attacks against peacekeepers are a violation of international law and humanitarian law. They could be a war crime."
THE ISRAEL VERSION
Israel said one of its tanks collided with a peacekeeping position because it was “under fire.” “An initial review showed that an IDF tank attempting to evacuate wounded soldiers while still under fire retreated several meters into a UNIFIL position. Once enemy fire ceased, and following the evacuation of the wounded soldiers, the tank left the position ,” the IDF said.
Even regarding the shootings of the past few days, "these are mistakes," IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari told Tg1 . "We are not targeting Unifil, Italy is a very important friend of Israel . We are investigating the events of the past few days, we are doing it very seriously to prevent something like this from happening again. We are only attacking Hezbollah, which in some cases hides near or behind UN bases."
HEZBOLLAH'S DRONE
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has hit the Binyamina area in central Israel with a drone . The Times of Israel reports, specifying that dozens of people were injured, over 60, some in serious condition . Ambulances and helicopters from the Air Force are on site. The Israeli air defense has more difficulty intercepting drones than rockets .
The death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon yesterday stands at 51, with 174 wounded. The increase in air strikes on what Israel describes as sites of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon since September 23 has led to a total death toll of more than 1,300, according to an official AFP tally , including Saturday's.
NETANYAHU THREATENS
The Israeli prime minister addressed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres directly in a recorded statement.
"The time has come to remove UNIFIL from Hezbollah's strongholds and combat areas. The IDF has repeatedly asked for this, and has received repeated refusals, all aimed at providing a human shield to Hezbollah militants. Your refusal to evacuate the soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah, and this endangers their lives and the lives of our soldiers ," Netanyahu said, saying he "regrets the injury suffered by UNIFIL soldiers" and adding that Israel "does everything to prevent such incidents."
Netanyahu also addressed " some European leaders " who in his opinion "are putting pressure in the wrong place", because " instead of criticizing Israel they should direct their criticism at Hezbollah , which uses Unifil as a human shield just like Hamas used the Urnwa in Gaza".
A request, that of Netanyahu, «condemned» by the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati . «We condemn Netanyahu's position and the Israeli aggression against the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces», says Mikari, adding that «the warning that Netanyahu addressed to Guterres asking for the removal of UNIFIL represents a new chapter in the enemy's approach in not respecting international norms».
THE ITALIAN CONDEMNATION
The Israeli Prime Minister also had a telephone conversation with Giorgia Meloni who, Palazzo Chigi said, "reiterated the unacceptability of the attacks on Unifil" and recalled that the mission acts on a mandate from the UN Security Council. The Prime Minister "underlined the absolute necessity that the safety of Unifil personnel be always guaranteed and renewed Italy's commitment in this regard, saying she was convinced that through the full application of Resolution 1701, we can contribute to the stabilization of the Israeli-Lebanese border and guarantee the return home of all displaced persons."
For Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, today's action is "an unacceptable act against the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, whose mandate is exclusively aimed at maintaining stability and security in the area . Following this serious violation, I asked the Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano, to contact his counterpart. General Portolano promptly spoke with the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, General Herzi Halevi, reiterating the need to avoid further hostile actions. My counterpart, Gallant, assured me of the same thing."
In the last few days , five blue helmets have been wounded by the Israeli army , which has also attacked Italian bases. About 1,200 Italian soldiers, mostly Sardinians, are taking part in the Unifil mission, with the Sassari Brigade leading operations in the western sector.
(Unioneonline/L)