UNIFIL marks International Day of Peace, reaffirms resolution 1701 as basis for lasting stability in south Lebanon
UNIFIL said in a statement that, as the world marked the International Day of Peace and communities in South Lebanon continued to endure the repercussions of the conflict, peacekeepers observed the occasion with a small ceremony held on Monday evening at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura.
UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara said in brief remarks: Peace is not something we address once a year; it is a continuous responsibility. We conduct patrols and keep channels of communication open with the parties to reduce the risks of misunderstanding and escalation. We also work with the Lebanese Armed Forces as they assume greater responsibilities in the South.
He added: The hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli forces have had a profound humanitarian and material impact on South Lebanon. The current conflict has forced thousands of people to leave their homes, and many remain displaced. The conflict has also disrupted livelihoods, caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, and resulted in civilian deaths and injuries. Civilians on both sides of the Blue Line have found themselves living under tension and fear.
Abagnara continued: Today, peace in South Lebanon remains elusive, but hope of achieving it remains. This is the aspiration peacekeepers reaffirm on the International Day of Peace. Lasting peace requires commitments and political solutions from the parties themselves. Peacekeepers can help restore stability, prevent misunderstandings and reduce the risk of escalation, but they cannot substitute for the political will and decisions needed to bring the conflict to a lasting end.
He added: Responsibility for reaching a political solution rests with the parties, and UNIFIL will continue to play its role by keeping channels of communication open, reducing the risk of escalation and supporting diplomatic efforts.
Turning to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Abagnara said that full implementation of this resolution remains the objective and the foundation for achieving lasting peace and stability in South Lebanon. He also stressed that continued cooperation between the Lebanese Armed Forces and UN peacekeepers remains essential to preserving stability and supporting the extension of state authority in the South.
The United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Peace in 1981 as an occasion devoted to advocating ceasefires and non-violence and promoting tolerance, justice and human rights. In 2001, the General Assembly unanimously designated the day as a period of non-violence and ceasefire.
The statement noted that this year’s ceremony marks UNIFIL’s final observance of the International Day of Peace before the end of its mandate later this year, following the Security Council’s 2025 decision to end the mission.
