Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that UN peacekeeping troops must “immediately” withdraw from the combat zone in southern Lebanon.
Five members of the multinational peacekeeping force have been injured there this week amid the heavy fighting.
Netanyahu addressed his appeal directly to UN Secretary General António Guterres during a Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, saying the UNIFIL force must exit so that Israeli ground troops can take on the armed militant group Hezbollah.
Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, have traded cross-border fire on a near daily basis for a year. Hezbollah once again fired missiles at northern Israel on Sunday, however there were no reports of casualties.
Israeli soldiers began ground raids into Lebanon two weeks ago as the air force hits targets across southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut.
“The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones,” Netanyahu said in a Hebrew-language message.
He accused Guterres of refusing to do so and thus making the UNIFIL soldiers “human shields” and “hostages of Hezbollah.”
“Mr secretary general, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately,” he said.
Netanyahu said he “regrets” that UNIFIL soldiers have been injured after Israeli soldiers fired on their positions while going after the militants.
UNIFIL’s task with more than 10,000 soldiers has been to monitor compliance with a ceasefire following the 2006 Lebanon war. They have stayed on the sidelines during the current fighting.
The United States and European countries have demanded that Israeli forces stop firing at the peacekeepers. On Friday, US President Joe Biden said he was “absolutely, positively” telling Israel to stop.
Pope Francis on Sunday called on Israel to avoid attacks on the
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and once again appealed for a ceasefire to be implemented.
The Israeli army meanwhile told the residents of more towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate. It said they should flee north of the Awali river, which is about 60 kilometres from the border with Israel.
New clashes between Hezbollah and Israel
Hezbollah claimed on Sunday that Israeli soldiers had attempted to enter the village of Ramyah in the border area.
Hezbollah fighters had detonated an explosive device near the troops. “The clashes are ongoing,” Hezbollah said.
The Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen broadcaster reported that Israeli soldiers had hidden behind a UNIFIL post in Ramyah.
The Israeli army reported that in various clashes, a reservist and an officer were severely injured.
Four Israeli divisions are so far involved in Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon. Israel keeps the strength and number of troops that have entered the neighbouring country secret.
Fighting continues in Jabalia in the Gaza Strip
In Gaza, residents of the Palestinian refugee district of Jabalia reported ongoing Israeli attacks in the area, saying that repeated explosions and low-flying drones could be heard.
Israel is said to have encircled Jabalia and imposed a curfew. Thousands of civilians were unable to leave their homes, locals told dpa, and people were struggling to get water and food supplies.
According to the military, it is targeting bases of the Palestinian militant Hamas organization, which is aligned with Hezbollah and Iran.
Residents of Jabalia reported that dozens of dead bodies in houses and on the streets could not be recovered under the circumstances. Wounded people were stuck inside their homes, unable to reach a hospital.
The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said that within 24 hours, 52 bodies had been brought to hospitals in the coastal strip.
Since the war began over a year ago, more than 42,200 people have been killed and more than 98,400 others injured in the Gaza Strip. These figures cannot be independently verified.
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