Increased tensions in Lebanon connected to conflict in Gaza – Martin

The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has led to increased tensions in neighbouring Lebanon where Irish peacekeeping troops are based, Micheal Martin has said.

Ireland’s deputy premier met on Sunday with members of the 124th Infantry Battalion serving with the United Nations Interim Force Lebanon (Unifil) at Camp Shamrock in Debel, Ireland’s largest overseas deployment.

The visit came as tensions escalate on the southern border between Hezbollah and Israel.

Mr Martin said the Irish troops were faced with a “very, very difficult environment where there has been a lot of exchanges between Hezbollah and the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)”.

He said he knew that people in Ireland were proud of the peacekeeping effort.

The Tanaiste said: “The area of operation is one now where there is significant military activity and the professionalism of our team here, our Defence Forces, the multi-disciplinary nature of the team here from medical right across to engineering, means that we operate a first-class operation here.”

Mr Martin said the greatest fear from the Gaza conflict had been regional escalation.

He added: “All our allies in the European Union, the member states, the US, have been really focused on trying de-escalate and trying to ensure there isn’t an escalation.

“That said, there has been an escalation in this region. Not to levels that would be akin to a war, but nonetheless it has resulted in 70-80,000 people having to leave this area and, likewise, up to 90,000 people on the Israeli side of the border having to be evacuated out.

“So, the situation is very tense and very difficult, and it is connected obviously to the war in Gaza.

“The war in Gaza is absolutely unacceptable, the bombardment of the Palestinians within Gaza must stop. It is unconscionable what is going on.

“We need an immediate ceasefire, we need an unconditional release of all hostages and we need a massive surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“I have witnessed myself the amount of aid that has been kept back and not allowed into Gaza which is morally unacceptable in terms of the needs of the people in Gaza.”

Mr Martin said he hoped that any ceasefire in Gaza could lead to a de-escalation of tensions in Lebanon.

He said: “When you see the destruction in Gaza, why would you visit that upon Lebanon? Through what moral lens would you even contemplate that?

“Hezbollah has to pull back and Israel would have to pull back.

“I am very conscious of the degree to which the war in Gaza has created greater potential for destabilisation in the region.”

Mr Martin said there had been no consideration giving to pulling Irish troops out of Lebanon.

“We obviously did an assessment, we spoke to the chief of staff and our military advisers. You just don’t, overnight, pull out of a peace operation.

“We are just part of a much wider, more expansive force here that really has kept the peace here.

“It is only when peacekeepers pull out that real carnage develops.

“It is very challenging. That is why we are bringing in an extra platoon, 33 additional members to add to the force protection of what we are doing here.

“We are working with other member states in the European Union to do scenario planning in case of escalations.

“The issue here is to maintain the peace, that is our role under the United Nations mandate and that is our commitment.”

Mr Martin said he hoped a situation would develop where peacekeeping troops would not be needed in the area in the future.

He said: “By that, I mean that things would stabilise so much we could have a harmonious existence between Lebanon and Israel.

“Ultimately, this region will only achieve peace if people from different backgrounds who live close to each other learn to live in harmony alongside each other.”

The Tanaiste delivered a speech to Irish troops during his visit to Camp Shamrock, where he said that the long tradition of peacekeeping is an essential component of Ireland’s foreign policy.

His itinerary on Monday includes meetings with the Lebanese minister for defence Maurice Sleem and minister of foreign affairs Abdallah Bou Habib, where he will raise the death of an Irish peacekeeper in 2022.

Private Sean Rooney, 24, from Co Donegal, was killed while serving in Lebanon when his convoy was attacked.

Mr Martin has said a central focus of his trip is communicating the “absolute determination of the Irish Government to ensure those responsible for Private Rooney’s death are brought to justice”.