Netanyahu demands evacuation of UN peacekeepers from combat zone in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the UN to withdraw peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from combat zones.

Addressing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Netanyahu stated: "The time has come to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah's strongholds and combat areas," reports The Times of Israel.

"The IDF has repeatedly requested this, but received constant refusals, all aimed at providing a human shield for Hezbollah terrorists," Netanyahu said.

"Mr. Secretary-General, withdraw UNIFIL forces from under threat. This must be done right now, immediately," Netanyahu stated.

The publication writes that UNIFIL reports that the IDF has struck several UNIFIL posts, including the headquarters in Naqoura.

"Your refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah," Netanyahu noted. "This endangers them and the lives of our soldiers."

Netanyahu stated that Israel "regrets the injuries" to the peacekeepers and that Israel is doing everything possible to prevent this.

"But the simple and obvious way to ensure this is to simply remove them from the danger zone," Netanyahu noted.

The Prime Minister stated that European leaders should criticize Hezbollah, not Israel, for using UNIFIL as a "human shield."