NEW YORK - Indonesia leads 67 countries sponsoring UN peacekeepers in strongly condemning the attack on UNIFIL personnel in Lebanon that killed three TNI soldiers and injured a number of other peacekeepers. The attack was considered intolerable and potentially a war crime.
The joint statement was read by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations, Ambassador Umar Hadi, at the UN Headquarters, New York, Thursday morning, April 9, 2026 local time. The collective attitude emerged amid the ongoing violence in Lebanon since March 2, 2026 in clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.
In the statement, the countries contributing troops to UNIFIL expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation and its impact on the safety of peacekeepers.
They condemned the latest attack that killed three Indonesian personnel and injured peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, and Poland. The countries also condemned the aggressive actions against UNIFIL personnel and leadership.
"Peacekeepers must not be targeted," the joint statement said.
They stressed that attacks on peacekeepers under the protection of international law and UN Security Council resolutions can constitute war crimes. Therefore, the UN and the Security Council are urged to use all available instruments to strengthen protection for peacekeepers in the field.
The statement also called on the UN to investigate all attacks on UNIFIL forces quickly, transparently, and thoroughly, and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
In addition to highlighting the safety of the troops, the 67 countries also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Lebanon. They mentioned the large number of civilian casualties, the destruction of infrastructure, and the mass displacement of more than one million people.
The sponsoring countries also urged all parties to return to the 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement and to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006. They called for a cessation of hostilities, de-escalation, and the return of all parties to the negotiating table.
When the statement was read, it was recorded that 64 sponsor countries had joined. About half an hour later, Bulgaria, Canada, and Japan joined to increase support to 67 countries, along with the European Union.
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