Finland has joined a group of countries in condemning Israel’s attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. The 40 countries are partners in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).
"Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated," the countries said in a statement released late Saturday.
On Saturday, the UN said that five Unifil peacekeepers had been injured in the preceding two days in southern Lebanon. Unifil has accused the Israeli Defence Forces of deliberately firing at its positions.
The Finnish Defence Forces said there are no Finns among the injured. About 200 Finnish peacekeepers are taking part in the Unifil operation.
"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," said the statement, which was initiated by Poland.
The countries called on Israel to respect international laws, the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions.
At a summit on Friday, French, Italian and Spanish leaders said the attacks on Unifil peacekeepers violated a UN resolution and must end.
Valtonen: "Prepared for all kinds of situations"
On Thursday, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (all NCP) condemned attacks against UN bases.
Valtonen declined to reply directly when asked whether Finland has considered withdrawing its peacekeepers from Lebanon.
"Of course, we have prepared for all kinds of situations, but the Finns are not in any danger now, and the situation is being actively monitored," Valtonen told the Finnish news agency STT.
"After all, this is a UN operation in which the Finns are involved. At least at the national level, we have no particular reason to act," she added.
Unifil said that, in recent days, its forces have repeatedly come under fire in the Lebanese town of Naqoura where it is headquartered, as well as in other positions.
The Unifil forces include some 9,500 soldiers from about 50 countries.
The force is mandated with enforcing a ceasefire that ended a 33-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Tank intrusion, noxious shells on Sunday
The UN said on Sunday that Israeli tanks had burst through the gates of a Unifil base in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the UN remove Unifil troops from combat areas in Lebanon. Hours later, the force reported what it described as additional Israeli violations, including two Israeli tanks destroying the main gate of a base and forcibly entering before dawn.
Soon after the tanks left, shells exploded 100 metres away, releasing smoke which blew across the base and sickened UN personnel, causing 15 to require treatment despite wearing gas masks, it said.
6.37pm: Updated with Sunday's developments.
