Statement by countries contributors to UNIFIL following recent attacks on the UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

12.10.2024

Following the attacks on the UN Interim Force base in Lebanon, a group of countries participating in the mission issued on October 12, 2024 in New York a joint statement upon Polish initiative. As many as 44 countries, including three UN Security Council permanent members, condemned the attacks on UN peacekeepers, called for their immediate cessation and for ensuring proper protection for UN personnel in accordance with international law.

The countries confirmed their full support for the UNIFIL mission and activities, the main goal of which is to ensure stability and lasting peace in South Lebanon as well as in the Middle East, in line with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. They emphasized that UNIFIL's role is particularly important in light of the escalation of the situation in the region.

The statement was addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the UN General Assembly Philemon Yang, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and members of the Security Council.

The UNIFIL mission comprises 10,000 peacekeepers, including over 200 Polish citizens.

Below is a list of countries that have joined the Polish initiative:

1.   Republic of Armenia
2.   Republic of Austria
3.   People's Republic of Bangladesh
4.   Federative Republic of Brazil
5.   Kingdom of Cambodia
6.   People's Republic of China
7.   Republic of Colombia
8.   Republic of Croatia
9.   Republic of Cyprus
10.   Republic of El Salvador
11.   Republic of Estonia
12.   Republic of Fiji
13.   Republic of Finland
14.   Republic of France
15.   Federal Republic of Germany
16.   Republic of Ghana
17.   Hellenic Republic
18.   Republic of Guatemala
19.   Hungary
20.   Republic of India
21.   Republic of Indonesia
22.   Ireland
23.   Republic of Italy
24.   Republic of Kazakhstan
25.   Republic of Korea
26.   Republic of Latvia
27.   Malaysia
28.   Republic of Malta
29.   Republic of Moldova
30.   Mongolia
31.   Nepal
32.   Kingdom of Netherlands
33.   Republic of North Macedonia
34.   Republic of Peru
35.   Republic of Poland
36.   State of Qatar
37.   Republic of Serbia
38.   Republic of Sierra Leone
39.   Kingdom of Spain
40.   Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
41.   United Republic of Tanzania
42.   Republic of Türkiye
43.   United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
44.   Oriental Republic of Uruguay

The statement:

Statement by coutries contributors to UNIFIL following recent attacks on the UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

As the countries contributors to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon we reaffirm our full support for UNIFIL’s mission and activities, whose principal aim is to bring stabilisation and lasting peace in South Lebanon as well as in the Middle East, in line with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

We consider UNIFIL’s role as particularly crucial in light of the escalating situation in the region.

We therefore strongly condemn recent attacks on the UNIFIL peacekeepers. Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated.

We urge the parties of the conflict to respect UNIFIL´s presence, which entails the obligation to guarantee the safety and security of its personnel at all times, so that they can continue to implement its mandate and continue their work of mediation and support for peace and stability in Lebanon and the entire region.

We reiterate our commitment to multilateral cooperation with the UN at its core. We call for respect for the international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.