Israel-Gaza-Lebanon updates: Netanyahu calls UN troops Hezbollah 'human shields'

U.N. peacekeeping troops claimed Israel Defense Forces tanks destroyed the main gate of their base in Ramyah in southern Lebanon on Sunday, breached the facility and stayed for 45 minutes.

The two IDF Merkava tanks left the base after the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) protested the action through a "liaison mechanism," according to U.N. officials.

Two hours later, U.N. peacekeepers at the Ramyah position reported hearing "several rounds" fired nearby. Smoke from the rounds, according to UNIFIL, engulfed the base, causing 15 peacekeepers to be treated for "skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions" and other effects.

IDF soldiers, according to UNIFIL, also stopped a "critical UNIFIL logistical movement" near Meiss ej Jabel on Saturday, denying it passage. The critical movement could not be completed, UNIFIL said in a statement.

The statement called on the IDF to respect the safety of U.N. personnel, saying, that UNIFIL has requested "an explanation from the IDF from these shocking violations."

There was no immediate response from the IDF.

"Breaching and entering a U.N. position is a further flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701 (2006)," UNIFIL said in its statement. "Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and resolution 1701. UNIFIL’s mandate provides for its freedom of movement in its area of operations, and any restriction on this is a violation of resolution 1701."

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz and Victoria Beaulé

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement Sunday claiming the United Nation's refusal to pull peacekeeping troops out of southern Lebanon amounts to the organization being "human shields" and their soldiers "hostages" for Hezbollah.

Employing similar rhetoric as he has used to describe the U.N. in Gaza, Netanyahu said, "I want to appeal directly to the U.N. Secretary-General: it is time for you to remove UNIFIL [U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon] from Hezbollah's strongholds and from the fighting areas."

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has repeatedly asked for this, and has been met with repeated refusals, all aimed at providing a human shield to Hezbollah terrorists," Netanyahu continued. "Your refusal to evacuate the UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah. This endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers."

UNIFIL said it will remain in southern Lebanon and that its presence supports a "return to stability under Security Council mandate." It has repeatedly called on all parties not to target peacekeepers and to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Dozens of countries with troops in UNIFIL this weekend signed a letter calling on all parties in the war to respect peacekeepers' positions "so that they can continue to implement its mandate and continue their work of mediation and support for peace and stability in Lebanon."

-ABC News Victoria Beaulé

The Lebanese Red Cross said it responded Sunday to the site of an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon to search for casualties. As medics worked at the scene, a second strike hit the same site, resulting in minor injurires to the first responders, the organization said.

"The lightly injured volunteers were transported to a hospital and are in good condition," the organization said on social media. "Lebanese Red Cross volunteers should be protected at all times while attempting to rescue casualties."

World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said on Saturday that 100 of Lebanon's 207 primary health centers have closed because of the fighting. Five hospitals have had to close because of damage sustained in attacks.

-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Forty countries whose soldiers serve as U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon said they "strongly condemn" recent attacks on peacekeepers, in a joint statement released on Saturday.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India and China were among the co-signatories.

"Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated," the statement said.

Poland's mission to the U.N. shared the statement on social media after the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported a fifth member of the peacekeeping force was injured in southern Lebanon on Friday.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian