Netanyahu renews call for UNIFIL to withdraw from active ‘combat zones,’ saying UN peacekeeping troops providing Hezbollah terrorists with human shields

Following the recent outrage concerning IDF troops accidentally striking positions of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) while responding to Hezbollah fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Sunday afternoon reiterating Israel’s call for the UN peacekeeping troops to withdraw from the active “combat zones.” 

Netanyahu made his remarks in Hebrew, but made his final statement, calling for the UNIFIL forces to be withdrawn, in English, directed at UN Sec.-Gen. António Guterres. 

The prime minister noted the year-long conflict, which he claimed was being waged against “Iran’s axis of evil,” 

“We are marking one year of the harsh war that was forced on us – the war of redemption against Iran's axis of evil, which has risen up to destroy us,” Netanyahu stated. “We are more determined than ever to ensure our future; we are more determined than ever to defeat our enemies.” 

He then acknowledged the ongoing ground operations in southern Lebanon, emphasizing that the battle is against the Iranian proxy Hezbollah, not the citizens of Lebanon.

“In Lebanon: We eliminated Nasrallah and his senior personnel,” Netanyahu noted. “Our heroic soldiers are destroying Hezbollah's weapons, command centers and terrorist tunnels.” 

“They are fighting forcefully to return our residents in the north safely to their homes. We are not fighting the Lebanese people,” he clarified, "we are fighting Iran's terrorist proxy Hezbollah, which has occupied Lebanon.” 

Next, the prime minister turned his attention to Guterres, at first, continuing his remarks in Hebrew, saying,

“I would like to appeal directly to the UN secretary-general: The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones.” 

Netanyahu confirmed that Israel has repeatedly requested that the UN withdraw its peacekeeping troops from the combat area for their own safety. 

“The IDF has requested this repeatedly and has met with repeated refusal, which has the effect of providing Hezbollah terrorists with human shields. Your refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has turned them into hostages of Hezbollah. This endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers." 

Netanyahu affirmed that the Israeli military is “doing our utmost to prevent” harm to the UN soldiers, saying,

“We regret the harm to UNIFIL soldiers, and we are doing our utmost to prevent such harm. But the simplest and most obvious way to ensure this is simply to withdraw them from the danger zone.” 

Netanyahu concluded his remarks by addressing Guterres in English, “Mr. Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm's way. It should be done right now, immediately.”