European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday condemned a series of Israeli attacks that injured UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon as ‘totally unacceptable’. “The 27 members of the EU have agreed to call on Israel to stop the attack on UNIFIL,” Borrell told reporters ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Luxembourg, adding that “attacking UN forces is absolutely unacceptable.”
At least five peacekeepers have been wounded in recent days when Israel targeted Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL, a mission of about 9,500 soldiers of various nationalities established after Israel’s 1978 invasion of Lebanon, has accused the Israeli army of ‘deliberately’ attacking their positions. “Many European members are involved in this mission”, Borrell said, “their work is very important.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday to remove peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon from “the path of danger”, saying Hezbollah was using peacekeepers as ‘human shields’. UNIFIL has refused to vacate its positions.
