‘Mistake, not accident’: Italy summons Israeli envoy after gunfire kills UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

Israeli forces acted unlawfully and fired on UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday, describing it as a possible war crime.

The UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel – an area where there have been heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters.

UNIFIL said two of its peacekeepers were injured when Israeli soldiers fired on their positions on Wednesday and Thursday.

“This was not a mistake and not an accident,” Crosetto said at a news conference. “It could constitute a war crime and a very serious violation of international military law,” he said.

Crosetto said he had contacted his Israeli counterpart to protest and also summoned the Israeli ambassador to Italy to demand an explanation, but this has not yet been forthcoming.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Unlike some European countries, Italy has heavily supported Israel during its year-long war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Italy has traditionally provided large numbers of troops to UNIFIL, and although none of its contingents were injured this week, Crosetto said the Israeli actions would not be accepted.

Israel has tried to remove UNIFIL peacekeepers from the border, but Italy said it had no right to do so.

“I told the ambassador to tell the Israeli government that the United Nations and Italy cannot take orders from the Israeli government,” Crosetto said.

France demands an explanation

France said it was waiting for statements from Israel after the attack on UN peacekeepers and was committed to ensuring their safety.

“France expresses its deep concern over the Israeli shots that hit the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and condemns any attack on the security of UNIFIL,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that none of its 700 soldiers stationed in Lebanon during the mission were wounded.

“We are waiting for explanations from the Israeli authorities. Protecting peacekeepers is an obligation that applies to all parties to the conflict.”

‘Move’

Israel is focusing on the fight against Hezbollah and is recommending that the United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon move north, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon said on Thursday, after Israeli forces fired on several UN positions.

“Our recommendation is that UNIFIL relocate 5 km (3 miles) to the north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies and the situation along the Blue Line remains unstable due to Hezbollah aggression,” Danon said in an explanation.

He said that “Israel has no desire to be in Lebanon, but it will do whatever is necessary” to drive Hezbollah from its northern border so that 70,000 residents can return to their homes in northern Israel.

(with Reuters input)