In Violation Of International Law, Netanyahu Orders Ghanaian Peacekeepers To Yield For Planned Israeli Assault On Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered Ghanaian, Irish and Italian peacekeepers under UN mission to move up north (5km away) to allow him carry out a planned military assault on Lebanon.

Netanyahu’s blatant disregard for International Law followed his announcement of a planned full-scale bombardment of the Lebanese southern border, adding to the conflict in the Middle East.

The Prime Minister disclosed this on Sunday during a coverage with SkyNews, ordering UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to get the peacekeeping forces “out of harm’s way”.

“From here, I want to appeal directly to the UN Secretary-General,” Netanyahu said in a video statement in Hebrew about the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which monitors the Israeli-Lebanese border.

It is time for you [Guterres] to remove UNIFIL from Hezbollah’s strongholds and from the fighting areas.”

He reiterated his call in English, stating, “Mr Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately.”

His comment, however, came after the Friday assault by Israel’s IDF, injuring two UN peacekeepers near their watchtower at UNIFIL’s primary base in Naqoura.

Under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 for Lebanon, a mandate for peacekeeping operations to ensure peace and protect civilians, attacking UN peacekeepers directly contravenes these resolutions and is considered a severe breach of international law.

It is worth noting that Israel has reportedly killed over 42,000 Palestinians, including women and children, through military occupation and blockade of food and aid workers, all of which are considered war crimes.

Despite these violations, an arrest warrant for Netanyahu from the International Crime Court (ICC) is yet to be issued.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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