Senior UN officials have called on Sunday to respect the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, following reports that israeli forces have killed at least 15 people in the south of Lebanon, in which the Idf forces were supposed to withdraw during the weekend.
The time limits provided for in the framework of the agreement on cease-fire " were not respected ", found in a joint statement of the special Coordinator of the united nations in Lebanon and the head of the United Nations interim Force in the country (UNIFIL).
Entered into force on 27 November last year, after months of conflict between Israel and the armed group lebanese Hezbollah, the agreement provided for the withdrawal of israeli forces from southern Lebanon by Sunday and the return of residents from both sides of the blue Line, the name given to the buffer zone between the two countries, along which the peacekeepers of the UNIFIL realize their patrols.
"As we have made the observation tragic this morning, the conditions are not yet met for the safe return of citizens in their villages, along the blue Line ", were of the view Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Aroldo Lázaro.
Before the escalation of Sunday, Israel announced on Friday his intention to defer the withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon due to allegations of violations of the terms of the cease-fire side of lebanon. Israel had warned the lebanese civilians not to go back home for the weekend.
Several hundred of them, however, have attempted to return to their villages. The israeli army would then opened fire on people in the south of Lebanon.
The daily Violations of resolution 1701
"The displaced communities, who already face a long process of recovery and rebuilding, are, therefore, called for caution ", warned the special Coordinator and the head of UNIFIL.
The two officials have also reported the daily violations of resolution 1701 of the security Council of the UN.
Adopted in 2006 to put an end to the hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, this historic resolution calling for a cease-fire permanent, based on the creation of a buffer zone between the two countries, the so-called blue Line.
The text mandates also UNIFIL to monitor the cessation of hostilities, to support the lebanese armed forces during the withdrawal of Israel from southern Lebanon, and to ensure the safe return of displaced persons.
Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert and Lázaro were of the view that the compliance of both parties from their obligations under the agreement of November, as well as the full implementation of resolution 1701 is the only way to " close the recent dark chapter in the conflict, and open a new one announcing the security, stability and prosperity of both sides of the blue Line ".
Positive developments
The two UN officials have indicated that the agreement of cessation of hostilities as of November 27, has had many positive effects.
The violence has decreased significantly, and in many parts of the south of Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of people were able to return to their towns and villages.
According to the two officials, the lebanese armed forces have also shown determination deploy on the positions which they had removed the Idf forces.
With the support of UNIFIL, the lebanese forces recover gradually access to public services and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to communities that are most affected by the conflict, they said.
In this context, the two officials said that the recent election of a President and the appointment of a prime minister in Lebanon is a crucial step to restore confidence among the lebanese citizens and the authorities of the state.
According to them, these developments are potentially going in the direction of a full extension of the authority of the State over all the lebanese territory.
The UNIFIL troops are ready
UNIFIL remains, however, very concerned by the information on the return of lebanese civilians in villages where israeli forces are still present, as well as by the reports of victims due to israeli fire, according to a press release published Sunday by the mission.
"The idf must stop shooting civilians in Lebanon," has called the mission.
At the request of the lebanese armed forces, the soldiers of the peace of the UNIFIL unfold to the current time in the zone of operation of the mission to monitor the situation and help to prevent any further escalation.
"However, the crowd management remains outside of our mandate," said the UNIFIL), which is responsible for supporting the implementation of resolution 1701.
To avoid any further deterioration of the situation in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL called the civilian population to adhere to the guidelines of the lebanese army.
