The Italian government formally protested against Israeli authorities, reiterating that what is happening near the base of the Italian UNIFIL contingent in southern Lebanon is not acceptable.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had a telephone conversation with the commander of the UN peacekeeping mission’s Western Sector, General Stefano Messina, according to a statement from Palazzo Chigi.
She reportedly received an update on the situation on the ground after the UNIFIL headquarters and two Italian bases were struck “repeatedly” and “deliberately” by the Israeli army on Thursday morning.
Meloni expressed her and her government strong support of the Italian military engaged in Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mission.
“Italians continue to provide valuable work for the stabilisation of the area, in adherence to the UN mandate,” the statement concludes.
Israel’s ambassador to Italy was summoned by the government following the news.
Acts could constitute war crimes, says Italian defence minister
“This is not a mistake, this is not an accident,” said Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto in a press conference at Palasso Chigi.
“UNIFIL has urged all actors involved to cease fire immediately,” he added, stressing that the hostile acts being carried out “could constitute war crimes” or at least “unjustified violations.”
Crosetto also specified that there were no injuries amongst the Italian peacekeepers, but that what happened in Lebanon was “totally unacceptable.”
He went on to say that “There is no justification for saying that the Israeli armed forced had warned UNIFIL that some of the bases had to be left.
I told the ambassador to tell the Israeli government that the United Nations and Italy cannot take orders from the Israeli government.”
The harsh critique was expressed by Crosetto to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant in a telephone conversation and then reiterated to the Israeli ambassador in Rome, who was summoned to the ministry.
Meeting of UNIFIL mission countries called
The Defence Minister explained that he had contacted his Israeli colleague early in the morning “to protest with him and remind him firmly” that what is happening near the Italian UNIFIL bases and towards the UN mission contingent “is unacceptable to the Italian government”.
“Although I have received assurances on the utmost attention to the safety of military personnel,” he added, “I have reiterated that any possible act that could put soldiers, both Italian and UNIFIL’s, at risk must be averted.”
Crosetto stressed that the situation is currently under control and that the safety of the Italian military personnel deployed in Lebanon remains an absolute priority for the entire Italian government, so that the Italian peacekeepers can continue their work of mediation and support for peace and stability in Lebanon and the entire region.
Together with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Crosetto called for a meeting of the countries contributing to the UN peacekeeping mission (France, Italy, Spain and Ireland) next week .
UNIFIL must move 5km north, says Israeli ambassador to UN
After the attack on UNIFIL positions in which two peacekeepers were wounded, the only comment that came from Israel was that of its ambassador to the UN Danny Danon.
He called for the peacekeeping troops to move five kilometres north.
“We are focused on the fight against Hezbollah and will continue coordination with UNIFIL, but our recommendation is that UNIFIL move five kilometres north to avoid danger as the fighting intensifies and while the situation along the Blue Line remains unstable due to Hezbollah aggression,” he said.
The request was rejected.
To Al Jazeera, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti explained that the Israeli forces had previously asked UN forces to “move from some positions along the Blue Line (the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon), but we decided to stay because it is important that the UN flag flies in southern Lebanon”.
“Targeting peacekeepers is a very serious violation, not only of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, but also of international humanitarian law,” Tenenti said.
On the future of the mission, he stressed that “if the situation makes it impossible to operate in southern Lebanon it will be up to the Security Council to decide how to proceed”.
“At the moment we are staying, we are trying to do everything we can to monitor and provide assistance,” he added.
