France Calls on UNSC to Take Action Against Israel Over Peacekeeper Attacks

(MENAFN) France on Tuesday urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to move beyond mere condemnation and take tangible measures against Israel following assaults on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, while China and Russia also called for de-escalation.

French UN envoy Jerome Bonnafont told the council that “grave incidents” had been committed by Israel against the French contingent in Naqoura, including attacks targeting the head of the military force.

He described Israeli soldiers as displaying “an aggressive attitude,” intimidating personnel and threatening the safety of French staff, despite all deconfliction protocols being observed.

Bonnafont condemned “in the strongest terms” the threats against United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel, stressing that the peacekeeping mission “must be allowed to carry out its mandate in full, without hindrance,” in accordance with UNSC resolutions.

“The council cannot settle for condemning. It must act,” he added.

China’s deputy UN envoy Sun Lei echoed France’s position, warning that “Lebanon must not become another Gaza,” and urging the international community “never to allow the tragedy of Gaza to be repeated.”

Sun called on all parties to “immediately cease hostilities” and de-escalate tensions, emphasizing that Israel should withdraw its forces from Lebanon and respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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