The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) drones dropped four munitions near its peacekeeping personnel in an incident described as “one of the most serious attacks” against its staff since the November ceasefire.
In a statement, the UN force said, “Yesterday morning, several Israeli Defense Forces drones dropped four munitions near UNIFIL peacekeepers engaged in removing roadblocks obstructing access to a UN position.” UNIFIL’s website detailed that “one munition landed less than 20 meters from UN personnel and vehicles, while the other three fell approximately 100 meters away. The drones were observed returning south of the Blue Line.” The statement emphasized that the IDF had been pre-informed of the ongoing road-clearing operation by UNIFIL in the area, southeast of the village of Marwahin. The work was suspended for security reasons following the incident.
UNIFIL condemned the action, stating, “Any action that endangers peacekeepers and their assets, as well as any interference with their duties, is unacceptable and constitutes a grave violation of Resolution 1701 and international law. It is the responsibility of the Israeli Defense Forces to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers performing their Security Council-mandated tasks.”
In response to reports of the incident, the IDF stated its forces were responding to a “suspicious presence” in the area, according to the Times of Israel. “Following an investigation,” the IDF reported holding talks through military communication channels to clarify the event and stressed that “no fire was deliberately directed at UNIFIL personnel,” reiterating that “the safety of civilians and Israeli forces remains a top priority.”
In a related development, Hamas issued an official declaration announcing its readiness to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the war and release all hostages. The group stated it is “prepared to accept a comprehensive deal, within which all enemy prisoners currently held will be released, in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel, in the context of an understanding that will lead to the end of the war in the Gaza Strip.” The proposed terms include the complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the entire Strip, the opening of crossings for the entry of all goods and necessities for the population, and the initiation of a reconstruction process. Hamas also renewed its offer to form an independent national government of technocrats to manage Gaza’s affairs.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with skepticism, calling Hamas’s announcement “yet another media stunt that contains nothing new.” He stated that the war could end immediately, but only under conditions set by his Security Cabinet: the release of all hostages, the dismantling of Hamas’s military arsenal, the complete demilitarization of the Strip, Israeli security control over Gaza, and the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is not a threat to Israel.
In a separate diplomatic matter, PM Netanyahu has rejected a request from French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Israel, as reported by Tel Aviv’s public broadcaster Kan. This follows Paris’s announcement of its intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. Netanyahu conditioned the French leader’s visit on the withdrawal of this initiative, a demand President Macron reportedly refused.
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