With countries evacuating their citizens from Lebanon, it has emerged that Israeli forces injured United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in an attack.
According to a report by BBC, on Friday, October 11, 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops were responsible for the incident where two Sri Lankan soldiers working for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon were injured.
According to the IDF, its soldiers operating around the UN base in Naqoura, Southern Lebanon identified a threat and opened fire.
The Israeli army stated that the incident would be investigated even as countries condemn the nation’s actions in its war against Hamas that has seen Lebanese civilians displaced.
The BBC also reports that on Thursday, two Indonesian UN soldiers were injured after falling from an observation tower when an Israeli tank fired towards it.
Israel’s major ally, the United States, called on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to ensure the safety of peacekeepers as countries around the globe push for a ceasefire.
Also Read: UN Adds Israel to List of Countries Violating Children’s Rights in Armed Conflict
Israel and Lebanon Relations
Israeli attacks in Lebanon target the Hezbollah militia group.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Hezbollah is an Iran-backed militia group based in Lebanon.
It was founded during the 15-year Lebanese Civil War that occurred from 1975–1990.
The group is driven by violent opposition to Israel and resistance to western influence in the Middle East.
However, after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel went into retaliatory mode in Gaza to eliminate Hamas and its infrastructure.
However, the level of distraction it caused attracted Hezbollah’s attention.
The militia started to attack Israel with rockets to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
These decisions saw Israel go after the group, recently killing some of its top leaders.
Israel killed the group’s long-serving leader Hassan Nasrallah at the end of September 2024.
Also Read: UN Takes Stance After Israel’s Decision to Shut Down Al Jazeera
Back to the Beginning
Since Israel went all out in war after the October 7 attack by Hamas in 2023, the country has been condemned for disregarding international law.
Moreover, in its quest to retaliate against groups it holds responsible for the attack on its citizens, Israel has hit headlines for displacing civilians in Palestine, killing thousands in drone strikes, and dismantling essential infrastructure.
Additionally, the country has in the past been condemned for killing aid workers. On April 1, 2024, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen.
The incident caused an uproar from the international community who questioned why Israel was allowed to continue with its war despite the atrocities.
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