TPM and MER-C Indonesia affirm attack on UNIFIL as war crime

The military actions by Israel that repeatedly target UNIFIL personnel not only constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law but also a crime that can be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Tim Pengacara Muslim (TPM) and MER-C Indonesia firmly state that the attack on UNIFIL peacekeeping personnel, including the martyrdom of three TNI soldiers, constitutes a war crime. “We firmly state that the attack carried out against UNIFIL peacekeeping personnel, including the three TNI personnel who were martyred, constitutes a war crime,” said TPM representative Achmad Michdan during a joint press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday. He stated that based on Article 8 paragraph (2) letter b number (iii) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), an attack intentionally directed against personnel, installations, materials, units, or vehicles involved in a peacekeeping mission in accordance with the UN Charter is categorised as a war crime. In addition, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and the Fourth Geneva Convention also explicitly protect peacekeeping forces from all forms of attack. “Thus, Israel’s military actions that repeatedly target UNIFIL personnel not only constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law but also a crime that can be prosecuted before the International Criminal Court,” he said. Achmad also conveyed that TPM and MER-C Indonesia strongly condemn all forms of attacks on peacekeeping personnel and international mission facilities. According to him, such actions constitute a serious violation of human rights and international norms that should be upheld by all parties. “We also call on all parties involved in the conflict, particularly Israel as the trigger of escalation of violence in the region, to immediately stop the attacks and respect the presence and neutrality of the international team carrying out humanitarian missions,” he added.