Israel admits that one of its tanks attacked the Finul base – DW – 10/14/2024

Israel acknowledged that one of its tanks attacked a base of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (Finul) this Sunday (10/13/2024) while suffering a Hezbollah attack and trying to evacuate wounded soldiers .

“Preliminary review showed that an army tank, which was still trying to evacuate soldiers injured during the shootout, moved several meters back towards the FINUL post. During the incident, the army responded to UN forces. Did not pose any threat, as reported by the Israeli military.

More than twenty Israeli soldiers suffered minor and moderate injuries in the Hezbollah attack, and two of them were seriously injured, according to the army’s international spokesman, Colonel Nadav Shoshani, at a press conference.

Once “enemy firing” stopped and the evacuation of the wounded was complete, the Israeli tanks abandoned the Finul post.

“During the incident, a smoke screen was used to provide cover for the evacuation of the injured soldiers. Army personnel maintained coordination with Finul,” the military statement said.

This Sunday, Finul accused the Israeli army of endangering its troops after two tanks attacked a base, again a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

“At approximately 4:30 local time, while the peacekeepers were in shelters, two Merkava tanks of the Israeli army destroyed the main gate of the position and forcibly entered it,” the mission said in a statement.

According to the note, Israeli soldiers asked the base to turn off its lights several times and the tanks left the scene about 45 minutes later, when FINUL protested through the contact mechanism, saying “the military presence poses a danger to the soldiers.” But was putting pressure on.” Calmness.

“Despite wearing protective masks, fifteen soldiers suffered effects including skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions due to smoke entering the camp,” Finul said, adding that the soldiers were receiving treatment.

The UN mission in Lebanon reminded the Israeli military “for the fourth time in two days” that its obligations include “ensuring the security of UN personnel and property and respecting the inviolability of UN facilities”, according to the Times.

“We have been in contact with Finul since the beginning of our operations in southern Lebanon and we have informed him of every step we take to protect him,” Shoshani said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Sunday accused the UN mission of being a “human shield” for the Shiite group Hezbollah, after five peacekeepers were wounded by Israeli fire over the past three days.

“The refusal to evacuate Finul soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah. It threatens their lives and those of our troops,” the president said in a video message.

Netanyahu assured that Israel has requested the withdrawal of the blue helmets on several occasions.

war crimes

For his part, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, condemned the attacks which, according to his spokesman, wounded several members of UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, amid advances by Israeli forces against Hezbollah militants.

“FINUL personnel and their facilities must never be targeted,” Guterres said in a statement, referring to the organization’s blue helmets in Lebanon.

“Attacks against peacekeepers violate international law… (and) may constitute a war crime,” the UN chief said.

“Today, in an extremely worrying incident, the entrance gate to a UN checkpoint was deliberately breached by IDF armored vehicles,” the statement said.

At least five peacekeepers have been wounded in recent days in Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Mission Finul, consisting of about 9,500 troops of various nationalities, created after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1978, has accused Israeli forces of “deliberately” firing on its positions.

Dujarric urged “all parties”, including the Israeli armed forces, to “refrain from any actions that endanger peacekeepers.”

The EU also this Sunday called for an “immediate” end to the attacks against Finul, which are a “serious” violation of international law, while demanding “immediate clarification and a thorough investigation by the Israeli authorities.”

In a statement on behalf of the Twenty-Seven, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said, “These attacks on UN peacekeeping forces are a serious violation of international law and completely unacceptable. These attacks must stop immediately ”

The head of European diplomacy said the Twenty-Seven “look forward to immediate clarification and a thorough investigation by the Israeli authorities into the attacks against Finul, which plays a fundamental role in the stability of southern Lebanon.”

MG (AFP, EFE, Reuters)