Following Israel's intensified assaults and invasion of southern Lebanon, the Israeli Prime Minister is now advocating for the withdrawal of U.N. peacekeepers from the region. Israeli military sources, pro-Israel media, and supporters have flooded the internet with disinformation, falsely accusing UNIFIL of collaborating with Hezbollah and failing in its peacekeeping mission.
Israel Wants UNIFIL Out of Lebanon
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to withdraw UNIFIL forces from "combat zones," claiming that their presence acts as a "human shield" for Hezbollah.
Netanyahu further claimed that if UNIFIL refused to withdraw from the area, they would become "hostages of Hezbollah," as if the peacekeeping mission were recently deployed, despite its long-standing presence in the region.
This has been the same claim used by the IOF amid the Gaza war. As Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, forcibly displacing civilians from the north to the south of the strip, the Israeli military has reiterated claims that Hamas is using civilians and international bodies like the United Nations to shield its attacks on Israel.
However, over a year of Israeli aggression against civilians has proved the claim to be fake.
Israeli military accounts have circulated a video claiming to show Hezbollah "weapons” lying on the ground just meters from a UNIFIL post.
The video indicates that UNIFIL is either failing in its duties or covertly assisting Hezbollah. “You might be asking yourself the same question we are: How come Hezbollah is able to embed their weapons just a few meters away from a UNIFIL post?” the IOF's caption reads.
An Israeli drone was used to capture aerial footage illustrating the proximity of the alleged Hezbollah weapons to the UNIFIL post, which displays U.N. and Irish flags.
Any viewer with common sense would find it hard to believe that Hezbollah would meticulously arrange a stash of weapons in plain sight for Israeli drones to spot.
Such videos, shared by the military, appear to be an attempt to pressure the U.N. forces that Israel is desperate to expel.
Media Outlets and Trolls Spread Israeli Propaganda Against UNIFIL
Media outlets echoed the Israeli military baseless claims on UNIFIL implicated in aiding Hezbollah and its failure to do its peacekeeping mission.
For instance, The Times of Israel shared an article under the title, “The force that isn’t keeping the peace in Lebanon: 4 scenarios for the future of UNIFIL.”
The outlets discussed how the U.N. Mission failed to keep peace and accused the mission of collaborating with Hezbollah, citing “Israeli pundits.”
The article reads, “The terror group’s exploitation of the peacekeeping mission as cover is nothing new, according to some Israeli pundits.”
International media outlets have also propagated the same Israeli narrative against UNIFIL. The Wall Street Journal published an article titled "U.N. Peacekeepers Are Hezbollah’s Best Friend," in which the editorial board accused the peacekeeping mission of merely "grandstanding" in response to Israeli attacks.
The article asserts that "Unifil let the terrorists roll in Lebanon but grandstands when Israel fights back."
In addition, pro-Israel users have taken to social media to amplify accusations against the U.N. mission.
Misbar's investigative team debunked a viral video that amassed over 797,400 views, falsely claiming to show a UNIFIL truck displaying a Hezbollah flag.
Many users shared this video, accusing UNIFIL of explicitly aiding Hezbollah.
Misbar’s team traced the original video and found it to be older than claimed, dating back to April 2024.
The video was shot after a UNIFIL truck entered a residential neighborhood, where residents displayed the Hezbollah flag on the vehicle.
Israel Escalates Attacks on U.N. Peacekeeping Mission
On October 16, U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon reported that Israeli forces fired at one of their positions in a "direct and apparently deliberate" attack, damaging a watchtower.
An Israeli Merkava tank fired at their watchtower, resulting in the destruction of two cameras and damage to the tower.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of Israeli attacks and violations against peacekeepers in Lebanon, coinciding with Israel's intensified bombardment and ground operations in the country, which have killed hundreds and displaced nearly a quarter of the population.
On Sunday, UNIFIL reported that two Israeli tanks "forcibly entered" a UNIFIL position near the village of Ramyah, crossing the U.N.-mandated Blue Line.
Following this, Israeli forces fired smoke rounds near the peacekeepers, causing 15 personnel to experience skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues.
Moreover, UNIFIL indicated that Israeli troops obstructed essential logistical movements near Meiss el-Jabal on Saturday.
Global Grave Concerns Rise Over Israel’s Targeting of UNIFIL
In a statement on Monday, the U.N. Security Council expressed its support for UNIFIL following recent Israeli attacks and called on "all parties" to ensure the safety and security of the mission. “UN peacekeepers and UN premises must never be the target of an attack,” the 15-member council emphasized.
On Saturday, 40 countries contributing troops to the peacekeeping mission condemned the Israeli assaults and demanded an investigation.
In a joint statement, the countries said they "strongly condemn recent attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers" and stressed that "such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated."
Despite these incidents, the U.N. remains firm in its commitment to the mission, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stating: "The UN flag continues to fly," affirming that UNIFIL is not leaving.
Why Is Israel Pushing to Exclude UNIFIL?
About 10,000 members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are stationed across a territory of over 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) between Lebanon’s de facto southern border and the Litani River.
Experts believe Israel's push to remove UNIFIL is aimed at excluding international observers who could document its actions in Lebanon.
A high-ranking diplomatic source, speaking anonymously to Al Jazeera, emphasized that UNIFIL’s mandate is part of the international order, and its removal would hand Israel “an easy win after its unacceptable behavior.”
Also, Shane Darcy, a professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Galway, warned that expelling UNIFIL would complicate efforts to monitor international law violations as Israel escalates its attacks in southern Lebanon.
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