Canada, UK and Allies Condemn Killings of UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon, Call for Immediate Halt to Hostilities

WASHINGTON, April 14 (Reuters) — Canada, the United Kingdom and a coalition of other nations on Tuesday strongly condemned the killing of United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon amid renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, and urged an immediate end to hostilities.

In a joint statement, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the United Kingdom said they remain deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation and the growing displacement crisis affecting civilians across Lebanon.

The countries said they remain deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation and displacement crisis in Lebanon.

The statement followed the deaths last month of three UN peacekeepers. Preliminary United Nations findings indicate that the fatalities were caused by an Israeli tank projectile and by an improvised explosive device that was most likely placed by Hezbollah.

The signatories reiterated the need to ensure the safety and protection of peacekeepers, to investigate attacks on UN personnel, and to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the fighting. They called on all parties to respect international law and to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions.

(Reporting by Christian Martinez; Editing by Ross Colvin and Muralikumar Anantharaman)