On International Peace Day, UNIFIL reaffirms shared aspiration for peace, despite ongoing conflict
As the world marked the International Day of Peace and communities in south Lebanon continue to grapple with the consequences of conflict, peacekeepers marked the day with a small ceremony at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura on Monday evening.
“Peace is not something we address once a year; it is an enduring responsibility,” said UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara in a short speech for the occasion. “We patrol, we keep channels of communication open with the parties to reduce the risk of misunderstanding and escalation. We work with the Lebanese Armed Forces as they assume greater responsibilities in the south.”
Hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli army have had a profound human and physical impact in south Lebanon. The current conflict has forced thousands of people from their homes, with many remaining displaced. It has disrupted livelihoods, caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, and resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, UNIFIL said, noting that “civilians on both sides of the Blue Line have found themselves living in tension and fear.”
“Today, peace in south Lebanon remains elusive, but the hope for peace endures. It is this aspiration that peacekeepers affirmed on the International Day of Peace. Lasting peace requires political commitments and solutions from the parties themselves. Peacekeepers can help restore stability, avoid misunderstandings, and reduce the risk of escalation – but they cannot replace the political will and decisions needed to end the conflict permanently,” UNIFIL added.
“The responsibility for a political solution remains with the parties,” said Major General Abagnara. “UNIFIL will continue to do its part, keeping communication open, reducing the risk of escalation, and supporting diplomatic efforts.”
Turning to United Nations Security Council resolution 1701, Major General Abagnara said that “its full implementation remains the objective and the basis for lasting peace and stability in south Lebanon.”
He noted that continued cooperation between the Lebanese Army and peacekeepers remains central to maintaining stability and supporting the extension of state authority in the south.
The International Day of Peace was established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1981. It is dedicated to ceasefire and non-violence and is an occasion during which all promote tolerance, justice, and human rights. In 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire.
The ceremony marks UNIFIL’s last International Day of Peace before its mandate expires at the end of the year, following the Security Council's 2025 decision to conclude the mission.
Source: Naharnet
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