Israel says places 'great importance' on UNIFIL mission amid EU pressure

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the activities of U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, near the border, are of "great importance" and that the force could play a vital role when the war with Hezbollah ends.

"Israel places great importance on the activities of UNIFIL and has no intention of harming the organization or its personnel," said Katz in a statement posted on X, adding: "Israel views UNIFIL as playing an important role in the 'day after' following the war against Hezbollah".

Sixteen EU defense ministers meeting Wednesday expressed "the shared will to exert maximum political and diplomatic pressure on Israel" to prevent further "incidents" against U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon, Italy said.

Italy and France organized a video conference involving the 16 EU countries that participate in UNIFIL, where the ministers "strongly condemned" attacks the mission has blamed on Israel, the Italian defense ministry said.