In a recent development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached out to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urging the organization to reposition peacekeeping forces in Lebanon to a “safe zone.” This request follows a series of incidents highlighting the precarious situation in the region.
According to reports from Reuters and AFP, Netanyahu emphasized that the Israeli military has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He expressed concerns that their presence could render them “hostages” to Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon.
In a video statement released by the Prime Minister’s office, Netanyahu appealed directly, stating, “Mr. Secretary-General, please move UNIFIL to a safe area, and action should be taken immediately.” His remarks come in light of recent clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, during which at least five UN peacekeepers sustained injuries.
Additionally, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz reiterated the nation’s stance, criticizing Guterres for not condemning Iran’s missile attacks on Israel and what he termed “anti-Semitic and anti-Israel actions.” Due to this perceived failure, Katz declared Guterres a “persona non grata.”
On October 2, Katz had announced a ban on Guterres’ entry into Israel for not explicitly denouncing Iran’s missile strikes. The tension between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has escalated, particularly after Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1. While most of the missiles were intercepted, some managed to breach Israel’s missile defense systems, raising alarms about the ongoing conflict in the region.