The leaders of Italy, France and Spain have expressed a Harsh condemnation of Israel Defense Forces attacks (IDF) to United Nations troops in Lebanon. On the sidelines of the Med9 summit held in Cyprus, just over 400 km away from the Lebanese coast, Giorgia Meloni, Emmanuel Macron e Pedro Sánchez they signed a joint statement, in which they expressed their outrage at the Israeli actions against UNIFIL forces, stressing that such attacks “constitute a serious violation of UN resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law”. “These attacks are unjustifiable and must end immediately,” the note reads.
French President Emmanuel Macron said: “Attacks against UN peacekeepers cannot be tolerated. Israel must respect international agreements and immediately stop all aggression.” Giorgia Meloni also reiterated Italy's position: “It is unacceptable that the UNIFIL headquarters and two Italian bases were hit. As Italy, we have already protested strongly to the Israeli authorities.”
Strong condemnation also came from the United States. President Joe Biden he reiterated that “Israel must no longer target UN forces in Lebanon”.
Macron: “No more weapons to Israel”
Macron he didn't mince his words and doubled down by asking for immediately stop arms supplies to Israel. “The only effective lever to end this spiral of violence is to stop the transfer of weapons used in these operations,” he said, stressing the urgency of action to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Pedro Sánchez, Spanish Prime Minister, supported Macron's idea, saying that "without weapons, the possibility of prolonging these clashes would be drastically reduced". The demand to stop arms sales is seen as one of the few solutions left to put pressure on Israel and force it to respect international agreements. TheItaly has maintained a more cautious position regarding the suspension of arms supplies, leaving the door open to further diplomatic negotiations.
Macron also announced that he will bring the question of Israeli attacks against Unifil to the United Nations Security Council. France, a permanent member of the Council, intends to raise the need for political censure against Netanyahu's government. "We can no longer allow Israel to act without consequences.. It is time for the international community to take a clear and united position,” Macron said.
Also 'Italy has lined up to support this initiative, with Giorgia Meloni declaring: “We are ready to support France in this diplomatic battle. Our soldiers in Lebanon are risking their lives and we cannot allow these attacks to go unpunished.”
Netanyahu's Response: "We Will Always Protect Israel"
Despite international demands, the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu responded by defending the IDF's actions, saying that they were necessary operations to defend Israel's security. "Israel will continue to protect its borders and its citizens from any threat," Netanyahu said at a press conference. Growing pressure from international powers, especially after the joint statements by European leaders, could, however, put Israel in an increasingly difficult position. isolated on the diplomatic level.
Tensions between Israel and the international community are constantly increasing. And the attacks on UN forces represent a new chapter of a crisis that risks further destabilize the Middle East. Never before have relations between Israel and Europe been at a crossroads.
Crosetto: “Review the rules of engagement”
Meanwhile, the Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, announced an extraordinary meeting of the Supreme Defense Council to discuss the situation in Lebanon. “We must review the rules of engagement of the international mission in Lebanon and ensure our soldiers are better protected,” Crosetto said.
Italian troops, together with French and Spanish ones, form the backbone of the UNIFIL mission, but recent attacks have highlighted the need for a Strengthening security measures.
“We will work to strengthen the Lebanese armed forces, the only ones authorized to dismantle Hezbollah hideouts according to UN resolution 1701,” Meloni added, anticipating one of the central themes of the next G7 Defense summit, which will be held in Naples.
Mattarella convenes the Supreme Defense Council
Given the growing tensions, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has called the Supreme Defense Council for 23 October 2024, at the Quirinale Palace. The agenda will examine the main ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as international and European initiatives to address them. The meeting will also focus on the state of Italian military missions in the Middle East region and the implications for national security.
