Netherlands Pushes for UN Peacekeepers to Remain in Southern Lebanon Beyond December Deadline

The Netherlands is actively advocating for UN peacekeepers to continue their mission in southern Lebanon past the scheduled December 31 expiry of their mandate, a Dutch minister revealed to The National on Wednesday. Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation, expressed hope that international dialogue—and the specific diplomatic role played by the Netherlands—would secure an extension, though he acknowledged the significant hurdles ahead.

Describing the peacekeeping force, Unifil, as vital for regional stability, Mr Sjoerdsma emphasized that maintaining the mission is a top priority. He made these remarks while speaking to The National on the sidelines of a meeting with Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed in Nabatieh, an occasion he used to announce fresh Dutch financial backing for Lebanon and the UN Human Rights Office.

Following intense US pressure, the UN Security Council previously resolved to conclude the 47-year peacekeeping operation in Lebanon, paving the way for a year-long withdrawal. Various post-Unifil scenarios, including the potential deployment of an international force, remain under consideration. However, Mr Sjoerdsma stated, “I don't want to think post-Unifil. I want to make sure that Unifil remains beyond December 31.”

While Israel has repeatedly criticized Unifil for failing to halt Hezbollah's military footprint in southern Lebanon, international observers worry that a complete withdrawal could trigger a dangerous security vacuum, particularly as Israeli troops continue occupying roughly seven per cent of Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has likewise appealed for an extension of the Unifil presence.

During his visit, Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma also intensified criticism of Israel's ongoing presence in southern Lebanon, alongside military actions targeting civilians, journalists, and aid workers, which he insisted “need to stop.” The National's reporter heard at least one loud explosion during the diplomatic delegation's stop in Nabatieh. According to Lebanon's National News Agency, an Israeli strike hit Nabatieh Al Fawqa, following earlier attacks in the broader Nabatieh district that the Israeli military attributed to retaliation for a Hezbollah drone launch.

Despite a late-June framework agreement intended to halt hostilities, Israel has continued razing villages inside a designated “security zone” and executing strikes both within and beyond the occupied territory. Mr Sjoerdsma noted that Dutch and Israeli foreign ministers held critical talks addressing not only the situation in Lebanon, but also ongoing crises in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Bilateral relations between Israel and the Netherlands have deteriorated amid broader European diplomatic friction, exacerbated recently by a Dutch ban on trade originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Although diplomatic pressure has yet to yield major shifts, Mr Sjoerdsma vowed persistence, stating, “We'll keep on pushing. This is my promise to Lebanon, to Lebanese people. Whatever we can do, because The Hague is the capital of international law justice.”

To bolster accountability, he announced a €500,000 (about $580,000) contribution to the UN Human Rights Office aimed at evidence collection. “Because if these things go without consequences, it will happen even more, and this cannot happen,” he stated. Hostilities had reignited on March 2 after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with its primary backer, Iran, and in response to persistent violations of an earlier ceasefire. Subsequent Israeli military retaliation has resulted in over 4,000 deaths and the widespread destruction of numerous villages. Unifil has maintained its operations in southern Lebanon since its establishment in 1978 following Israel's initial invasion.