The report, prepared by a country contributing troops to the mission and reported by the FT on Wednesday, outlines detailed incidents where Israeli forces targeted the UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon since launching its ground invasion on 1 October.
The UNIFIL was established by the United Nations following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in in 1978.
Originally tasked with monitoring the ceasefire and securing the volatile "Blue Line,” the demarcation established by the UN to delineate the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.
The UNIFIL’s role expanded dramatically after the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon, through UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Its mandate was expanded to monitor the cessation of hostilities, assist the Lebanese government in securing its borders, facilitate humanitarian access to civilian populations affected by conflict, and guarantee voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.
One of the most serious incidents occurred on 13 October, when two Israeli Merkava tanks broke through the main gate of a marked UN base.
"Following UNIFIL protests, the tanks left after 45 minutes. But within an hour, several rounds were fired about 100 metres north of the base, which emitted smoke of suspected white phosphorus that wafted into the base, the report said, injuring 15 peacekeepers.”
Israel acknowledged that one of its tanks had backed “several metres” into the UNIFIL post. But it said the tank was trying to evacuate injured soldiers, claiming a smokescreen had been created to provide cover.
Even if clashes occurred in the area, those tanks “can withstand fire better than our position can. So if they were sheltering, it wasn’t for physical shelter,” said a UINFIL source.
This episode, captured in photographs within the report, has raised significant concerns due to the unlawful use of white phosphorus in populated areas, as outlined by international law.
Human Rights Watch noted that Israel's use of white phosphorus "is unlawful in populated areas" and carries severe risks to civilian and military personnel alike.
Other incidents of Israeli attacks on the UN force detailed in the report include a 10 October attack in which an Israeli tank fired on an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, directly striking the structure, causing them to fall and injuring two peacekeepers.
"A photograph in the report shows a large circular hole in the tower, which Richard Weir, a senior conflict and arms researcher at Human Rights Watch, said was consistent with direct fire."
In another incident also on 10 October, Israelis fired at a UN bunker where Italian peacekeepers had taken refuge in Labbouneh.
The report says that the bombardment of the entrance to the bunker happened after the Israeli army had conducted drone surveillance operations and destroyed the position’s cameras the day before. Photographs in the report show a large mound of debris tumbling under a hole in the corner of a building.
In response to international condemnation, Israel has tried to deny deliberately targeting UN forces, claiming that its military operations are solely directed at Hezbollah.
Additionally, Israel has also accused Hezbollah of using UN troops as "human shields,” and wanted the UNIFIL to leave, which the peacekeepers and the 50 countries contributing forces, stood firm against and refused to evacuate from the area, despite ongoing Israeli pressure.
The confidential report, which includes extensive photographic evidence, provides "further details of the damage done to UN bunkers that shelter troops, perimeter walls and observation towers at several bases," the FT explained.
The report also documents one of the most egregious cases which took place on 8 October, when Israeli forces began firing directly at UNIFIL bases.
A destroyed gate and wall at a UN military facility.
Dust clouds following an explosion on October 7 in the vicinity of UNP 6-52
IDF fired several rounds about 100 metres north of a UNIFIL base, which emitted ‘smoke of suspected white phosphorus’ into the facility.
An IDF Merkava tank fired at an observation tower, creating a large circular hole that caused it to fall.
IDF Merkava tanks deployed inside military base UNP 5-42
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