Netanyahu doubles down on demand that UNIFIL 'leaves combat zone'

euronews (in English)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his call for UN peacekeepers "to temporarily leave the combat zone", calling the accusations that Israel dedliberately attacked UNIFIL personnel "completely false."

Transcript

00:00Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated demands that United Nations

00:07peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, temporarily leave the combat zone.

00:13International criticism is growing after Israeli forces have repeatedly fired on UN peacekeepers

00:18since invading Lebanon two weeks ago.

00:22In a video statement released on Monday, Netanyahu rejected allegations that the Israeli military

00:27deliberately targeted the peacekeepers.

00:29The charge that Israel deliberately attacked UNIFIL personnel is completely false.

00:35It's exactly the opposite.

00:37Israel repeatedly asked UNIFIL to get out of harm's way.

00:41It repeatedly asked them to temporarily leave the combat zone, which is right next to Israel's

00:46border with Lebanon.

00:47Stefan Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, emphasized that

00:53the attacks on its peacekeepers may constitute war crimes.

00:57Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law, including international

01:01humanitarian law, and they may constitute war crime.

01:05He called on all parties, including the IDF, to refrain from any and all actions that put

01:10our peacekeepers at risk.

01:12The UN Security Council has reiterated its support for UNIFIL's role in supporting regional

01:17security, as well as its support for the peacekeepers' continued presence in southern Lebanon, despite

01:22Netanyahu's calls for their removal.

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