The German government on Monday criticized the fire aimed at UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon and called on Israel to explain how it could have happened.
“All parties to the conflict, including the Israeli army, are obliged to focus their combat activities exclusively on the military objectives of the other party to the conflict,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Berlin said.
Germany was urgently awaiting a full explanation and was in contact with the Israeli side on the issue, he said.
The spokesperson said the situation in southern Lebanon is being monitored with growing concern. So far, five troops from the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission had been injured and significant damage had been caused to UNIFIL positions.
“Shooting on UN peacekeepers and forcing access to their bases is completely unacceptable,” he said. The highest priority must be given to the protection and security of UN forces, the spokesperson said.
Israel accuses the Hezbollah militia of using areas near UNIFIL bases for their own purposes.
UNIFIL has monitored the border area between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. More than 10,000 troops from more than 50 countries, including Germany, have been deployed in the mission.
