The Irish Presidency on Saturday described as “outrageous” an Israeli request to replace part of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL), which has 347 Irish troops deployed along the border between Israel and Lebanon.
“It is outrageous that the Israel Defense Forces have threatened these peacekeepers and tried to force them to evacuate the villages they protect. “In fact, Israel is demanding that the entire UNIFIL, which operates under a UN mandate, leave,” Irish President Michael Higgins condemned in a statement.
“This is not only an insult to the most important global institution to which 193 members are attached, but an insult to the soldiers and their families who have taken risks so that we can all live in peace and protect the most vulnerable,” he continued. .
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Earlier on Saturday, UNIFIL announced that the Israeli military had requested the “withdrawal of peacekeepers from some of their positions” on September 30, announcing its “intention to conduct a limited ground incursion into Lebanon.” UNIFIL rejected this request.
In total, 347 Irish troops are part of this UN force, which includes around 10,000 peacekeepers. All are deployed in southern Lebanon to monitor peacekeeping in the region.
Fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has intensified since Israeli troops began a ground incursion into southern Lebanon earlier this week.
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