Lebanon, Israel fires on UN contingents. Borrell: “Unjustifiable act, red line crossed”

Brussels – Israel now declares war on the United Nations. The Jewish state’s armed forces, in response to Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations, shot at three contingents of the UNIFIL mission, two of which Italian, triggering protests, criticism, and censure from the European Union and Italy. “Unjustifiable act”, the reaction of the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, who, in a message entrusted to X, condemns what he calls an “inadmissible” action. An unforgivable mistake, he adds, since “the positions of the peacekeepers are known.” With what happened, “another red line has been crossed,” Borrell again attacks in open criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The episode only increases tensions between Brussels and Tel-Aviv, following criticism and Borrell’s condemnations of attacks conducted by the Israeli military on health workers, always in Lebanon, in open violation of international humanitarian law.

Tensions in Italy as well, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni filing a formal protest. Israel’s ambassador was convened, through the Minister of Defense, to demand an explanation of the incident, stating that what happened in Lebanon “is not permissible.”

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called a press conference to reassure that “there are no Italian casualties among the blue helmets” and emphasize “the gravity of the incident.” The same minister warned Israel, “The hostile and repeated acts of the Israeli armed forces against the UNP base could constitute war crimes, and certainly represent severe violations of the norms of international law certainly not justified by any military necessity.”

The Italian grievances, Crosetto assures, have been brought to the attention of the Jewish state’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, who has been intimated to cease hostilities and return to the track of international and humanitarian law. Palazzo Chigi lets it be known that Meloni is “closely following developments, in constant contact with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani” along with Crosetto himself. The Italian government confirms “the fundamental role of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon” and “continues to work for the cessation of hostilities and de-escalation in the region,” the government note reads—a distancing and condemnation of the increasingly uncomfortable—because indefensible—ally Netanyahu.