AMSTERDAM – The European Union has strongly condemned recent attacks on United Nations peacekeeping missions, specifically targeting the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday.
In a statement, Borrell emphasized that such attacks constitute a “grave violation of international law” and called for their immediate cessation. Several UNIFIL peacekeepers were wounded during the attacks amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
“These attacks must stop immediately,” Borrell said, reiterating the EU’s stance against all forms of aggression toward UN missions. The IDF has disputed certain accounts provided by UNIFIL, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the peacekeeping mission of acting as “human shields” for Hezbollah militants.
Borrell stressed the obligation of all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, demanding a thorough investigation by Israeli authorities into the incidents.
“UNIFIL plays a fundamental role in the stability of South Lebanon,” Borrell stated, urging for clarity and accountability regarding the attacks.