“It’s not acceptable”: EU Council flays Israel’s attacks on UN peace mission

European Council President Charles Michel has condemned Israel’s attacks on UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, calling them “neither responsible nor acceptable”.

The attacks have resulted in injuries to two Indonesian peacekeepers and damage to UN property. This development is the latest in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

“An attack against a UN peace mission is not responsible, is not acceptable and that’s why we call on Israel and we call on all sides to fully respect international humanitarian law,” Michel told the French news agency, AFP, on the sidelines of a summit in Laos on Friday.

Also Read: Germany assures commitment to arming Israel despite genocide allegations

Michel’s statement comes amidst international concern over the conflict’s humanitarian impact, particularly in Gaza, where over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 97,000 others injured.

Earlier, UN peacekeeping chief told the Security Council that the safety and security of peacekeepers in Lebanon is “increasingly in jeopardy” as Israeli forces open fire on UNIFIL posts in the country’s south, injuring two.

UN investigators said Israel is committing “war crimes and crimes against humanity” in its deliberate attacks on healthcare facilities and medical personnel in Gaza.