Western doctors who visited Gaza talk about “atrocities”

The leadership of the United Nations Mission operating in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) renewed calls for all actors to lay down their weapons, recommit to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and work towards a political and diplomatic solution, amid mutual bombing between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, and Israeli incitement against elements Civil Defense and paramedics in the south, saying that fighters use ambulances in the south.

On the forty-sixth anniversary of the founding of UNIFIL, the Head of the UNIFIL Mission and Commander-in-Chief, General Aroldo Lazaro, said: “Resolution (1701) has faced challenges due to current events, but it remains as important and necessary as ever. We call on all parties to commit to implementing the resolution in full. Our peacekeepers, numbering more than 10,000, continue their important work in monitoring, de-escalation and engagement, and we stand ready to support a peaceful resolution to the current crisis.”

This year, the mission did not hold its annual ceremony at its general headquarters in Naqoura. Peacekeepers are focused on accomplishing their mission amid violations of the cessation of hostilities and violations of Resolution 1701 along the Blue Line. However, General Latharu paid tribute to the civilian and military peacekeepers who have served with the Mission over the years, including more than 330 people who died in the service of peace.

Latharu continued: “The sacrifice of those who lost their lives here was not in vain, and our efforts today, in these extremely difficult circumstances, are a tribute to their memory. Their sacrifices motivate us to continue our work towards de-escalation in the short term and peace in the long term.”

He also praised the work of more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 49 countries, who, along with their civilian colleagues, and despite the continuous daily exchange of fire, maintained their course in monitoring the rapidly developing situation in southern Lebanon, and maintained an operational pace. High and visible presence, and continue to help local communities.

The United Nations Security Council established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, under Resolutions 425 and 426 on March 19, 1978, and the mission’s mandate was expanded by Resolution 1701 after the 2006 war.

The celebration of the founding of UNIFIL comes in light of an ongoing war between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. For a week, the Israeli army has been completely destroying a number of southern towns, displacing their residents and depriving them of livelihoods, especially the villages adjacent to the Blue Line and the border with northern Israel, according to the official Lebanese National News Agency.

In the same context, the United Nations Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Joanna Wronetska, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, presented a briefing to the Security Council on the implementation of Security Council Resolution No. 1701 (2006), during the closed Security Council consultation session.

The Special Coordinator expressed her “deep concern about the escalation in exchanges of fire on both sides of the Blue Line and beyond,” saying that “these repeated violations of Resolution (1701) increase the risk of miscalculation and exacerbate the deterioration of the current critical situation.”

The Special Coordinator of the Council said: “In light of the priority of preventing and reducing escalation on our agenda, our collective focus, advocacy and pressure must be primarily focused on urging a return to a cessation of hostilities,” adding that there is still room for diplomatic efforts to reach a solution. A solution that prevents the outbreak of a broader conflict.

The Special Coordinator expressed particular regret at the impact of the fighting on civilians, and said that the current situation “highlights the risks that the deficient implementation of Resolution (1701) brings to Lebanon and Israel and to the stability of the entire region.” She considered that “it is no longer sufficient to return to the relative calm and stability that prevailed before October 8,” as “a political process based on the full implementation of Resolution (1701) and aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict and ensuring long-term stability has become necessary.” .

In addition, Israel accused Hezbollah and the Amal Movement of using ambulances for “terrorist” purposes, as announced by its army spokesman Avichay Adraee.