Israeli Occupation in Southern Lebanon Raises Concerns for UN Aid Efforts

UN Humanitarian Chief Asks Council for Protection Plans Amid Escalating Israel-Lebanon Conflict

A meeting was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, where the UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, asked the UN Security Council what measures it would take to protect civilians in Lebanon. The request came as Israeli forces continue their ground invasion and bombardment of the country.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that his country plans to occupy parts of southern Lebanon after the current escalation with Hezbollah ends. According to Katz, the Israeli army will establish a security zone inside Lebanon and maintain control over the area up to the Litani River.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed on Monday due to an explosion near the southern Lebanese village of Bani Haiyyan. A third Indonesian peacekeeper was also killed earlier, with a projectile exploding in a UNIFIL position near Aadshit al-Qusayr.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN’s undersecretary-general for peace operations, stated that initial findings suggest a roadside explosion struck the convoy of the two peacekeepers who were killed on Monday. The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson condemned the deadly incidents, stating that attacks on UN peacekeepers violate international law and may amount to war crimes.

The meeting comes as over 1.1 million people have been displaced across Lebanon since Israel launched intensified attacks on the country on March 2. Human rights groups have expressed concerns about the expanded military operations, warning against attacking civilian infrastructure and blocking residents from returning to their homes and communities.

Source: Al Jazeera