Official statements from the UN or involved governments

Netanyahu Urges UN's Guterres to Immediately Evacuate UNIFIL from Lebanon, Calls Peacekeepers 'Hezbollah's Human Shields'

Oct 13, 2024, 01:15 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to immediately evacuate UN peacekeepers from southern Lebanon, stating that their continued presence is endangering their lives and turning them into 'hostages' of Hezbollah. In a direct video message, Netanyahu said, 'Mr. Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm's way. It should be done right now, immediately.' He accused the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) of providing a 'human shield' for Hezbollah terrorists and violating UN resolution 1701 by allowing Hezbollah to take over the area. Netanyahu asserted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had repeatedly requested the evacuation but faced rejection. UNIFIL reported that Israeli tanks had forcefully entered one of their positions in Lebanon, destroying the main gate, and that some peacekeepers were injured due to smoke after gunfire was heard. UNIFIL comprises almost 11,000 troops stationed in southern Lebanon. The incidents have escalated tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border amidst the ongoing regional conflict.