Netanyahu Warns UN Peacekeepers Becoming 'Hezbollah's Hostages,' Urges Immediate Evacuation from Southern Lebanon

Oct 13, 2024, 11:22 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to evacuate UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon immediately. In a video statement issued on Sunday, Netanyahu warned that the continued presence of UN peacekeepers in combat zones is turning them into 'Hezbollah's hostages' and endangering their lives. He urged the UN to withdraw UNIFIL soldiers from Hezbollah strongholds to prevent them from becoming 'human shields' for the militant group. Netanyahu accused UNIFIL of allowing Hezbollah to take over the area for years in violation of UN Resolution 1701. He noted that Israel has repeatedly requested the evacuation of UNIFIL forces but has faced rejection aimed at providing protection for Hezbollah fighters. He highlighted that Hezbollah has launched over 10,000 rockets from southern Lebanon, killing dozens of Israeli civilians. The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, which includes nearly 11,000 soldiers, has been deployed along the border area to monitor the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. The UN has not yet responded to Netanyahu's latest request.