Ireland calls Israeli demand to move UN troops 'outrageous'
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Irish President Michael Higgins expressed his belief that "Israel" was insulting the most "important global institution."
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An armored personnel carrier of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrols along al-Khardali road in south Lebanon on September 17, 2024. (AFP)
On Saturday, the president of Ireland severely criticized "Israel's" insistence that UN soldiers abandon their posts in southern Lebanon.
Irish President Michael Higgins said in a statement that it was "outrageous" that the Israeli occupation forces "have threatened this peacekeeping force and sought to have them evacuate the villages they are defending."
Higgins added, "Indeed, Israel is demanding that the entire UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) operating under UN mandates walk away."
Ireland contributes 347 of the 10,000 soldiers operating in the UNIFIL forces tasked with keeping calm in southern Lebanon.
Earlier Saturday, UNIFIL said that it had refused Israeli demands to "relocate" several sites ahead of "Israel's" potential infiltration of the Lebanese border.
Higgins described the proposal as "an insult to the most important global institution."
'Israel' declares UN chief 'persona non grata' over Iran attack
In line with the Israeli policy of complete disregard for international law and institutions, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been declared “persona non grata” in "Israel", effectively banning him from entering the occupation entity.
The Foreign Ministry claimed that this move was prompted by Guterres' response to a missile attack from Iran the previous night.
"Israel" said that Guterres failed to specifically name Iran and did not clearly condemn what it described as "grave aggression" in his statement. The Foreign Ministry further criticized Guterres for his policies during the ongoing war, accusing him of supporting "terrorists, rapists, and murderers" from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Ansar Allah and now backing "the mothership of global terror, Iran."
This comes shortly after Guterres called for an immediate end to the escalating violence in the Middle East. In a statement on Tuesday, he condemned the growing scale of the war, marked by continuous escalations. "This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire," Guterres emphasized.
I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 1, 2024
This must stop.
We absolutely need a ceasefire.
In a related context, the United Nations voiced deep concern on Monday over the deteriorating situation in Lebanon as Israeli attacks intensify, underscoring its opposition to "Israel's" reported plans for a ground invasion of the country.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the events that are unfolding in Lebanon," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a press briefing.
Dujarric emphasized Guterres' call for all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to pursue de-escalation while highlighting the importance of enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
