A StandWithUs UK Special Deep Dive Series

According to its first article in its Charter, the first purpose of the United Nations (UN) is:

To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;

When it comes to Israel and its fight against terror, even before the massacres of October 7th, the UN has repeatedly failed to uphold this basic purpose of its existence. Our education team have worked extensively on presenting this special four-part Deep Dive about the UN, and the questions that arise about whether this supposedly impartial organisation is complicit with the actions of terror groups or simply incompetent at upholding its own basic values.

Each part will examine a key component of the UN. They are:

·      UNIFIL

·      UNRWA

·      UN Human Rights Council

·      UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

UNIFIL

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established in 1978 by the UN Security Council (Resolution 425) in response to Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon and the resulting instability. Its initial mandate was to:

Confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

Restore international peace and security.

Assist the Lebanese government in restoring its authority in southern Lebanon.

After the 2006 Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah, the UN expanded UNIFIL’s mandate with Security Council Resolution 1701. This expanded role included:

Monitoring the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

Supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in southern Lebanon, especially in maintaining a buffer zone free of non-state military forces (e.g., Hezbollah).

Assisting in humanitarian efforts to help displaced people and communities.

Criticism of UNIFIL and Display of Support

Inability to Disarm Hezbollah: Despite UNIFIL’s mandate to ensure that no unauthorised weapons are present in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah continues to maintain a significant military presence, including hidden weapons depots, rocket launchers, and tunnels near the border. UNIFIL’s failure to prevent this has shown that the ‘peacekeeping’ force is ineffective in curbing Hezbollah’s activities.

Limited Access to Hezbollah-Controlled Areas: Hezbollah operates in civilian areas and often obstructs UNIFIL’s access to these areas, making it difficult for UNIFIL to monitor violations of Resolution 1701. In some cases, UNIFIL patrols have been blocked or even attacked by local Hezbollah supporters, preventing ‘peacekeepers’ from entering specific villages or inspecting areas suspected of harbouring weapons.

Hezbollah’s ability to operate freely in southern Lebanon, without significant interference from UNIFIL, can be seen as an advantage for the group. Israel have justifiably accused UNIFIL of turning a blind eye to Hezbollah’s military build up.

Where are we now?

On September 30th, IDF representatives submitted a request to the UN on September 30th to remove its personnel from positions within 5km of the Blue Line. The IDF have shown through all their military operations that they adhere to the Law of Armed Conflict and go above and beyond to protect civilians and foreign personnel.

The reality on the ground changed dramatically when the IDF launched its ground operation into Lebanon on October 1st, uncovering extensive Hezbollah military – terrorist infrastructure. This infrastructure has been allowed to flourish under UNIFIL’s watch. Hezbollah has systematically and intentionally used UNIFIL positions as cover for carrying out their terrorist activities.

On Sunday 13th October footage was obtained showing a Hezbollah tunnel found next to UNIFIL position. A Galatz (IDF Radio) reporter reported from southern Lebanon saying, ‘there are underground Hezbollah bunkers, just a few metres away from a military post and a UNIFIL position.’ Right under the noses of UNIFIL soldiers, Hezbollah built and dug military fortresses overlooking the towns of northern Israel, preparing for raids into the Galilee. It is hard to believe that the UNIFIL forces done everything possible to enforce the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which is supposed to prevent Hezbollah from having a presence south of the Litani River.

Screenshots (L-R) of footage of a Hezbollah tunnel entrance uncovered right by a UN watchtower and UNIFIL base. (13th October 2024, Doron Kadosh)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN Secretary General requesting him to withdraw UNIFIL forces from southern Lebanon. The UNIFIL forces refused to move away from the combat zone and have not only allowed Hezbollah to thrive but have endangered its own ‘peacekeepers.’

Infographic of launches towards Israel, launched from a location near UNIFIL posts (13th October 2024, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)

A former United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) soldier, under the alias “Michael,” testified that UNIFIL was ‘totally subject to Hezbollah’ when he worked in Lebanon 10 years ago in an interview with Danish news site B.T. on Sunday 20th October. Michael also reported that UNIFIL and UNTSO workers had their access to cities in southern Lebanon restricted by Hezbollah, who would stop them when they tried to enter certain areas.

‘When we patrolled the Blue Line, we often saw “civilians” very close to the Israeli military installations taking pictures,’ he said. ‘When that happened, we withdrew and observed from a distance – we were simply instructed to do so.’ Some outsourced workers for UNIFIL and UNTSO were also vocally supportive of Hezbollah, Michael recalled. 

‘We reported daily violations of resolution 1701 to our superiors, including in particular restrictions on our freedom of movement, and we were instructed to report all violations regardless of number. But nothing ever happened,’ he said. ‘We did not hear back from them, and nothing was initiated. It only confirmed to me what I had experienced in other countries I was posted to: The UN is incompetent.” Michael maintained that the on-the-ground workers had good intentions in Lebanon – “But of course, there were also some who were fervently anti-Israel. I especially remember one of them from Ireland.”

On Monday 21st October, Hezbollah terrorists who were captured as part of the IDF’s ground operations in southern Lebanon testified during interrogations that Hezbollah paid money to UNIFIL personnel to use their positions in southern Lebanon to fire rockets into Israel. According to the report, Hezbollah also seized UNIFIL security cameras in complexes near the Israeli border and exploited them. UNIFIL denied the claims.

You decide: complicity or incompetence?

UNIFIL is required to ensure peace and security along the Israel-Lebanon border. UNIFIL’s role expanded after the 2006 Lebanon War under UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Its key responsibilities include monitoring the cessation of hostilities, supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and maintaining a buffer zone free of unauthorized weapons and militant groups, like Hezbollah, south of the Litani River. This clearly has not happened. Hezbollah has forces, ammunition and tunnels right by Israel’s border metres away from UNIFIL troops and infrastructure, raising concerns about the peacekeeping force’s role in the region. UNIFIL is another UN agency that has allowed terrorism to thrive instead of preventing it.