Micheál Martin claims Israel seeking 'free rein' for IDF by ordering removal of peacekeepers
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Israel wants to remove UN peacekeepers from south Lebanon to give the IDF “free rein”, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has claimed.
The Foreign Affairs Minister accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to undermine the UN’s peacekeeping force in south Lebanon as well as the "very rules-based international order".
"It needs to step back," he added ahead of a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.
“I will be saying to my colleagues (in other European countries) there can be no equivocation, there can be no hesitation or relaxation of any views in respect of the primacy of the United Nations in terms of the international rules-based order.”
On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu told Unifil troops to immediately leave combat zones in Lebanon, having claimed that remaining makes them “hostages of Hezbollah”.
Mr Martin said that Mr Netanyahu’s statement was “very concerning”, while also raising concerns about the actions of the IDF on the blue line in Lebanon.
Asked why Israel wanted to remove UN peacekeepers from the region, Mr Martin said: “Essentially to drive the eyes and ears out of south Lebanon and give itself free rein.”
He acknowledged that a battle is ongoing in the region, but that there have been calls for Hezbollah to cease firing rockets into Israel over the last 12 months.
The Tánaiste said that the war needs to end, but this would require a UN peacekeeping force to remain in Lebanon to maintain peace following the conflict.
“We cannot have an undermining and a chipping away of the status or the credibility or structures of the United Nations and particularly its peacekeeping forces,” Mr Martin said.
“We see what’s happening in northern Gaza for example, in terms of the necessity of eyes and ears on the ground. The world has really no full picture of what’s happening in Gaza.”
He described the recent escalation in northern Gaza as “quite shocking”, with Israeli bombardment of a refugee camp in Jabalia killing at least 19 people according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Mr Martin said the ongoing “death and destruction” of innocent Palestinians is “not acceptable or morally tolerable anymore”.
“Quite a number of our EU member states really need to stand up now on the side of what’s right and proper and moral in terms of humanity,” Mr Martin said.
“I think what’s happening in northern Gaza is well beyond any moral compass and what’s happening in Lebanon.
“I’m surprised that some EU colleague states have not been as forceful or as strong in supporting UN peacekeeping troops as they could be.”
He said that while a collective EU statement on the Middle East is welcome, but that it could be “far stronger”.
The Tánaiste’s comments come as Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen described the Unifil peacekeeping force as “useless” for not protecting Israelis from Hezbollah.
"The State of Israel will do everything to ensure the safety of its citizens, and if the UN cannot help, at least it should not interfere, and move its personnel from the combat zones," Mr Cohen said on X.