In a press statement issued on Sunday, UNIFIL reminded Israeli forces and all other parties of their responsibility to ensure the safety of UN personnel and property.
All parties must remember that the principle of non-violation or defiance of UN premises must be respected at all times, the statement said.
“Despite this, we note that the desecration of UN posts and the destruction of UN property are clear violations of international law and Security Council Resolution 1701.”
UNIFIL said such actions violate international humanitarian law and endanger the safety of UN peacekeepers.
The UN mission said that Israeli forces have repeatedly demanded that UNIFIL vacate all its observation posts and towers along the Blue Line and that Israeli forces have deliberately damaged UN posts.
UNIFIL said that despite increased pressure on the mission and on countries that contribute peacekeepers, UN peacekeepers remain ready at all their posts and towers.
“We will continue to monitor and report on the mandates and responsibilities assigned to us.”
Other incidents involving security threats
There have been alarming incidents in the days leading up to Sunday’s incident, in which at least five UN peacekeepers were injured.
Four days earlier, UNIFIL said in a statement that UN peacekeepers stationed at a checkpoint near Kafr Kela saw an Israeli tank fire at their observation tower. Two cameras were destroyed in the firing and the monitoring tower was also damaged.
Senior UN officials, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressed grave concern about the situation, saying the security of UN personnel and property must be ensured and UN premises must be respected at all times.
The UN chief warned that attacks against UN peacekeepers violate international law and could even be considered war crimes.