The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, has issued a formal apology following a bombing incident that injured three Ghanaian peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in South Lebanon.
The March 6 strike, which affected members of the Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT), has been described by Israeli authorities as an operational error amid ongoing hostilities in the region.
Speaking in an interview, Ambassador Gilad accepted full responsibility on behalf of the Israel Defense Forces, stressing that the attack was not deliberate.
“We are very sorry for the incident that took place on the 6th of March,” he said. “On the 17th of March, we sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here… in which we took full responsibility for the fire that was caused by a mistake, by an error.”
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He rejected claims that the strike was intentional, describing such suggestions as completely unfair and emphasising that Israel has no interest in targeting peacekeepers, particularly from a country it considers friendly.
The Ambassador attributed the incident to what he described as a recurring tactic by Hezbollah fighters, who allegedly operate in proximity to UN peacekeeping positions.
According to him, Israeli troops had come under fire from militants positioned approximately 500 metres from the Ghanaian base on the day of the incident, leaving an Israeli platoon commander and seven others injured.
“Hezbollah is taking, unfortunately, UNIFIL for a ride,” he stated. “They sneak next to UNIFIL positions… they shoot against us, and they escape. Trying to challenge the source of the fire… indeed, we hit the base by mistake. But this is a pattern.”
Following the incident, Israel has formally petitioned the UNIFIL command in New York and South Lebanon to consider relocating the Ghanaian contingent.
The Israeli Ambassador warned that the current position of the Ghanaian troops is the “most dangerous place” in the operational area, citing frequent militant activity in the vicinity.
“Immediately, a week after… we approached UNIFIL command… that the Ghanaian regiment will temporarily reposition into other locations,” he revealed.
He maintained that such a move would help reduce the risk of further incidents, particularly given what Israel describes as the use of “human shield” tactics by militant groups.
The apology has reignited concerns over the safety of peacekeepers in Lebanon, especially given past incidents involving Israeli strikes on UN positions.
Since 1996, there have been more than 20 recorded cases of Israeli military actions affecting UN sites, including the Qana massacre.
While the Israeli Ambassador acknowledged that “friendly fire” remains a difficult reality in conflict situations, the incident has sparked renewed debate in Ghana over the risks faced by its troops deployed abroad.
Ghana continues to be a key contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, with its personnel widely recognised for professionalism and discipline in volatile regions.
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