Pope Francis on Sunday called for
United Nations peacekeepers to be respected after the
headquarters of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon and two of its
Italian bases were hit by fire from Israeli forces this week.
Five peacekeepers have been injured as Israel fights Hezbollah
in southern Lebanon.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto this week summoned the
Israeli over the attacks on UNIFIL, which Italy contributes
around 1,000 troops to.
"I continue to follow what is happening in the Middle East with
concern and I call once again for an immediate ceasefire on all
fronts," Francis said during his Angelus address.
"Let the paths of diplomacy and dialogue be pursued to achieve
peace.
"I am close to all the populations involved, Palestine, Israel
and Lebanon, where I ask that the United Nations peacekeeping
forces be respected".
Israel's defence minister said Sunday that Defence Minister Yoav
Gallant promised his United States counterpart Lloyd Austin that
measures would be taken to avoid harm to UNIFIL troops.
But later in the day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
told United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres via a
video statement to move UNIFIL away from Hezbollah's
"strongholds and combat areas".
"The IDF has repeatedly asked for this, and has repeatedly been
refused," he continued, saying this made them "a human shield
for Hezbollah.
"Your refusal to evacuate the soldiers makes them hostages of
Hezbollah," he said.
"This endangers their lives and those of our soldiers. We regret
the injury suffered by the UNIFIL soldiers, we do everything to
prevent these accidents",
UNIFIL, has accused Israel of deliberately firing at it.
On Saturday 40 States that contribute to the mission, including
Italy, condemned the attacks, saying "such actions must stop
immediately and should be adequately investigated".
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