Taoiseach slams deliberate firing at UNIFIL posts as "breach of international law"

Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke with President of Israel Isaac Herzog on Monday, October 14 amid rising concerns about the safety of UNIFIL peacekeepers.

In Israel, much like in Ireland, the role of the President is mostly ceremonial. Executive power in Israel is with the Prime Minister, currently Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Today I spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to relay the Government's serious concern about the deteriorating situation in southern Lebanon and to emphasise the Government's expectation that UNIFIL's role and mandate be fully respected at all times," Harris said on social media after the call.

"I again emphasised that the security of Irish peacekeepers serving in the region is paramount," he said.

Ireland contributes 370 troops to the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), which overall consists of 10,058 peacekeepers from 50 countries.

The Taoiseach continued: "The deliberate firing at UNIFIL posts is an outrageous and totally unacceptable breach of international law, and a cause of the deepest concern to the Irish people, especially the families of the Irish Defence Forces personnel serving in Lebanon

"The scale of the humanitarian catastrophe is unimaginable and that children and civilians are starving and dying is reprehensible."

Harris said he will meet with several European leaders this week on the matter, adding "The world cannot turn a blind eye."

The phone call took place the day after UNIFIL said that peacekeepers at a UN position in Ramyah observed three platoons of IDF soldiers crossing the Blue Line into Lebanon.

UNIFIL said two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the position’s main gate and forcibly entered the position. The tanks left about 45 minutes later after UNIFIL protested through its liaison mechanism, saying that IDF's presence was putting peacekeepers in danger.

UNIFIL added that on Saturday, IDF soldiers stopped a critical UNIFIL logistical movement near Meiss ej Jebel, denying it passage. The critical movement could not be completed.

Last week, Irish leaders welcomed the news that Israeli forces had left the vicinity of UN Post 6-52, where Irish troops are located.

In updates on Sunday and Monday, Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Irish Defence Forces, confirmed that all Irish Peacekeepers were well and accounted for.

They added, however, that the Irish Peacekeepers were continuing their operations in" a challenging and volatile environment, where ongoing clashes occur between opposing factions both within the Irish sector and the broader UNIFIL Area of Operations."

The Defence Forces can confirm that all Irish Peacekeepers are well and accounted for. They continue their operations in a challenging and volatile environment, where ongoing clashes occur between opposing factions both within the Irish sector and the broader UNIFIL Area of… pic.twitter.com/BFNDBC76uX

— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) October 14, 2024

Meanwhile, Tánaiste Micheál Martin took part in a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, with Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East on the agenda.

“The ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon is completely unacceptable," the Tánaiste said ahead of the meeting.

"The risk of a wider regional conflict is real. The attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers by the IDF we have seen in recent days are completely unacceptable and reprehensible.

“All parties, including Israel, must respect their obligations regarding the protection of the peacekeepers and avoid any activities that put them in harm’s way. We urgently need de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, a country that is already fragile and facing a growing humanitarian crisis.

"A year after the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel, and the appalling suffering of the Palestinian population since then in Gaza, we will discuss how the EU can support efforts to bring about an urgently needed ceasefire, hostage release and humanitarian access.

“I will raise the need for the EU and its Member States to take into account the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ and the need to support efforts to restore a political path to resolve this long-running conflict.

"This war must end.”