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October 14, 2024

Israel Accused of Committing War Crimes by Attacking U.N. Peacekeepers in Lebanon
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Israel is continuing to attack Lebanon, killing scores of people over
the weekend. Meanwhile, Israel is facing international condemnation
after repeatedly attacking U.N. peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon.
Five members of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, have been
injured in recent days. The U.N. has also accused Israel of forcibly
entering and destroying part of a UNIFIL base near the Israeli border.
Israel denied the claim. On Thursday, Israeli troops fired at a UNIFIL
watchtower. The U.N. has rejected calls by Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu to remove the peacekeeping forces. On Sunday, U.N.
Secretary-General António Guterres warned attacks against peacekeepers
"may constitute a war crime."
On Friday, the leaders of France, Italy and Spain issued a joint
statement saying the Israeli attacks on peacekeeping forces are
"unjustifiable" and should "immediately come to an end." Lebanon's
caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati also decried the attacks on the
U.N. troops.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati: "The attack on UNIFIL forces by Israel is a
crime condemned by us and is directed at the international community,
whose sanctity is being violated and whose existence is being threatened
by targeting the United Nations security forces."



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