Lebanon's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ahmad Arafa, stated that Israel is continuing its systematic destruction of villages, towns, and residential neighborhoods in Lebanon.
اضافة اعلان
In a speech delivered before the UN Security Council last night, Arafa emphasized that the occupation is also targeting medical teams, hospitals, journalists, schools, infrastructure, security agencies, UNIFIL forces, places of worship, and archaeological sites classified as world heritage sites for humanity, among many other symbols that embody Lebanon's memory and cultural identity.
He added that these Israeli practices and violations contradict the provisions of the UN Charter, international human rights law, and international humanitarian law.
Arafa explained that Israel's creation of security zones and drawing of geographical lines constitute a direct occupation and a flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, calling on the Security Council to condemn these aggressions and fulfill its duties under the Charter to put an end to them.
It is worth noting that the UN Security Council held an emergency session last night regarding the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, during which council members listened to a briefing from the UN Secretariat, presented by the Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Ms. Martha Pobee.
Pobee stated that developments in Lebanon represent a dangerous and alarming escalation, as they directly undermine the understanding on the cessation of hostilities announced by the United States on April 16, and erode fragile diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation.
The UN official demanded that Israel withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory and fully respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing the need to protect civilians and refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure, including cultural heritage sites.
She added that "UN personnel must not be targeted, and UN premises must remain inviolable," calling on all actors to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from taking any actions that could threaten to derail efforts aimed at reaching a lasting solution.
Petra
