Germany condemns Israeli attacks on UN troops in Lebanon, rejects Netanyahu's demand for UNIFIL's withdrawal

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Monday condemned the Israeli attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), dismissing calls from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw UN peacekeeping forces from South Lebanon.

Demands for UNIFIL’s withdrawal cannot be accepted or imposed unilaterally, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer said at a media briefing in Berlin.

“The UN secretary-general also emphasized once again that the UNIFIL troops remain on site despite the dangerous situation and to say again, UNIFIL and the United Nations have our full support because UNIFIL is helping to monitor the situation and the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 is a central task…,” he added.

Fischer strongly criticized the shelling of UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, calling on Israel to clarify the reasons for such attacks.

"All parties to the conflict, including the Israeli army, are obliged to direct their combat operations exclusively against military targets of the other party to the conflict,” he said.

The German diplomat said that the situation in southern Lebanon is being monitored with “growing concern.”

According to the German government, five UN peacekeepers have been injured so far, and there has been significant damage to UNIFIL posts.

"The shelling of UN peacekeepers and the intrusion into their bases is in no way acceptable," Fischer said, adding that UN troop protection and security are top priority.

In response to a question about allegations that Israeli forces used Palestinians as human shields during military offensives, the diplomat said the German government urged Israel to investigate allegations that troops used Palestinian detainees as human shields in the Gaza conflict.

When asked about a New York Times report that Palestinian detainees are regularly forced by Israel to perform life-threatening tasks during the Gaza war, Fischer said, "I don't know the reports, but of course, Israel, as a party to the conflict, must adhere to international humanitarian law."

“Of course, these accusations must be clarified and dispelled, and that is something that we are constantly demanding from the Israeli side in this case and others as well,” he added.