Human Rights Watch Calls for Investigation into Attacks on UN Peacekeepers

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the United Nations to launch an investigation into recent attacks on United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers, citing potential violations of international law by Israeli forces. Over the last three days, UNIFIL personnel have been targeted in three separate incidents in southern Lebanon.

According to HRW, the attacks by Israel on UN peacekeepers could constitute a breach of the laws of war, as peacekeepers are classified as civilians, even if they are armed. HRW has called on the UN to “urgently establish” an international inquiry in Lebanon and Israel, with findings to be made public.

The latest attack occurred on Friday morning when a UNIFIL outpost in southern Lebanon came under fire. On Thursday, the headquarters in Naqoura were repeatedly targeted, injuring two peacekeepers after an Israeli tank struck an observation tower. The previous day, Israeli forces fired at a UNIFIL position where peacekeepers were taking shelter, with an Israeli drone also spotted near the bunker entrance.

UNIFIL has stated that its 10,400 peacekeepers will continue their presence in southern Lebanon despite the increased risk, although their movements are severely restricted by Israeli military presence. Originally established in 1978, UNIFIL was tasked with confirming Israel’s withdrawal and preventing armed groups from using southern Lebanon for attacks against Israel. Following the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, UNIFIL’s mandate was expanded under UN Resolution 1701 to observe and facilitate humanitarian aid in the region.

Lama Fakih, a director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the significance of allowing UNIFIL to complete its peacekeeping and humanitarian mission, particularly as the conflict in Lebanon has resulted in over 2,000 deaths and the displacement of more than a million people since mid-September.

Meanwhile, France has summoned the Israeli ambassador in response to Israeli troops reportedly opening fire on three UN peacekeeper positions, including the main base in Naqoura. The French foreign ministry denounced the attacks as “serious violations of international law” and stressed the obligation to protect peacekeepers.

The Lebanese Red Cross responded swiftly to incidents in Beirut, indicating that ambulances and volunteers were dispatched immediately following strikes on Thursday evening. Gabriel Karlsson of the British Red Cross Middle East office lauded the Lebanese Red Cross for their prompt humanitarian efforts.

In related developments, there are reports of escalated violence in the Gaza Strip, with civil defense teams assisting the injured following Israeli quadcopter fire at a school in the Jabalia refugee camp. The EU is also contemplating sanctions against Iran over missile transfers to Russia, indicative of the widening implications of the Middle Eastern conflict.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the ongoing hostilities, including the injury of two Indonesian peacekeepers, and urged maximum restraint among parties involved. He remarked on the unprecedented levels of “death and destruction,” warning of the global repercussions of an escalating regional conflict.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concerns about the spreading conflict during the East Asia Summit in Laos, where discussion focused on maintaining stability through diplomacy. The US has stressed the humanitarian needs in Gaza and the importance of facilitating the return of displaced individuals from Lebanon.