The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon reported that Israeli tanks breached one of its positions early on Sunday morning. Two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tanks destroyed the main gate of a post in Ramyah, near the Israeli border, and "forcibly entered the position" to request that its lights be turned off. About two hours later, it said rounds were fired nearby that saw smoke enter the camp, causing 15 peacekeepers to suffer skin irritations and gastrointestinal reactions. The IDF offered a different version of events, saying it had encroached on a UNIFIL position to evacuate soldiers who had been wounded by an anti-tank missile. The Israeli encroachment of the positions of UN peacekeepers by the IDF has been condemned worldwide. The United Nations, the European Union and several troops contributing countries have jointly condemned Israel's hostile action, calling it unacceptable. Nepal, whose peacekeepers are also deployed in the UNIFIL at the request of the United Nations, has joined in condemning Israel's move. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the attack, stating, "Nepal strongly condemns the recent assault on UNIFIL peacekeepers." While calling for the immediate cessation of such actions, the MoFA urged both sides to prioritize the safety of peacekeepers and conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The attack in the camps of UN peacekeepers comes in the wake of escalating tensions between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon. After the recent attacks by the Iran-backed radical guerrilla organization Hezbollah within its territory, Israel began raiding Hezbollah's hideouts inside Lebanon. The situation worsened after Hezbollah joined the war that Israel waged against Hamas after the October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians last year. The UNIFIL was established in 1978 to restore peace in Lebanon and its role in improving the lives of Lebanese civilians has become more critical as they are now caught in the crossfire between Hezbollah fighters and the IDF. The situation has deteriorated as countries like Iran continue to provide all kinds of support including arms to anti-Israel guerrilla organizations. If both the warring parties do not exercise restraint, this is likely to plunge the entire Middle East in a fresh turmoil.
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Considering the fact that the entire Middle East will be destabilized if this aggressive activity of Israel is not stopped, the United Nations and the European Union have rightly urged Israel to stop the attack. A total of 33 countries, including Nepal, which has sent soldiers to UNIFIL at the call of the UN, also joined in condemning the attack and called on the warring parties to uphold the dignity of international law and guarantee the safety of peacekeepers. Israel must understand that the indiscriminate attack against the peacekeepers deployed under the UN mandate will wane international support for its war against militant organizations. There was even silent support for Israel's initial action even within Arab countries that did not support Hezbollah's activities. However, the attack on UN peacekeepers has reduced the support for Israeli action. The importance of peacekeeping forces to disarm extremist organizations like Hezbollah or Hamas cannot be underestimated. This calls for the need to ensure strengthened presence of the peacekeepers, not their removal from Lebanon. We believe the international community has stood up for peace by condemning Israel for attacking the UNIFIL post. All countries including the powerful nations of the West must put pressure on Israel to immediately cease the hostilities and send a clear message that the attack on peacekeepers cannot be accepted under any circumstances.
