As I write this letter, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) continues to fire at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), leaving at least 20 peacekeepers wounded at the time of writing, including three brave Indonesian soldiers and other troops from contributing countries.

These are deliberate attacks.

It started a few days ago, with Israel telling the UN peacekeeping mission to abandon its posts and relocate 5 kilometers above the Blue Line. UNIFIL has proudly and correctly stood its ground.

The IDF then “instructed” the peacekeepers to seek refuge, and followed suit with direct attacks, shooting on the peacekeepers. The Israeli force’s Merkava tanks fired upon the UNIFIL observation tower in Naqoura and other facilities, including more recently UNIFIL’s main gate in Ramyah.

Its caterpillars have bulldozed several UNIFIL T-wall barriers. It has stopped UNIFIL logistical supplies near Mays-al-Jabal.

The UN Security Council has all the facts. How has it not come to the conclusion that these were deliberate actions? Clearly, these are blatant violations of international humanitarian law and the council’s own resolution.

This is Gaza all over again. Israel started with instructing Palestinian civilians to relocate to the territory’s south, only to continue with its attacks and bombardments, even after they had moved to refugee camps in southern Gaza.

Why have you not seen the pattern?

It is indeed a dark moment for multilateralism when the Blue Helmets, the very symbol of peace, are under direct attack.

All this reminds me of when I was reading the UN Charter for the first time, as a student of international relations many years ago.

I remember reading: “We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, ... to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, ...”

These words certainly added to my determination to join the Indonesian Foreign Service.

And indeed, throughout my career, I have always taken pride in representing Indonesia as a firm believer of multilateralism.

Just like all other UN member states, Indonesia agreed to “confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security”, as stipulated in Article 24 of the UN Charter.

We respect the charter’s provision to accord permanent membership status to only five countries – the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China – and to accord them with veto power, even though we always feel that such a privilege does not reflect the principle of equality of all nations.

This is why Indonesia, through the Asia-Africa Conference, moved to enshrine the principle of equality of all nations, large and small, as one of the 10 fundamental principles of the Bandung Spirit.

This is why Indonesia never tires of reminding all permanent members of the Security Council that with great power comes great responsibility. That respect must be earned. And your moral authority depends on your ability to fulfill your mandate of maintaining international peace and security.

I am therefore appalled by the inability of the council, particularly the inability of its permanent members, to take any real actions in the face of the continuing atrocities in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, all committed by Israel.

You remain paralyzed when more than 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza.

You could not even reach consensus that such a systematic, widespread and intentional destruction of a group of people based on their nationality constitutes genocide. Isn’t this the very definition of Article II of the Genocide Convention?

You remain paralyzed when more than 280 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza. Isn’t that a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions?

And yet, when the IDF attacks the Blue Helmets who serve under the council’s mandate, your deafening silence continues.

At the time I write this letter, you are even unable to agree on a press statement from the council, which is the weakest form of outcome it can produce.

It is indeed a sad day for humanity when those mandated to be the guardians of international peace and security – the Security Council, and in particular its permanent members – are incapable of stringing words together.

Let me ask you, permanent members of the Security Council, the following questions:

Have you fulfilled your duty to save succeeding generations from war?

Have you fulfilled your duty to uphold faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person?

Why do you continue to allow these rights to be inapplicable to Palestinians, and now, to Lebanese also?

When our peacekeepers bravely stand their ground on the Blue Line, defending the UN Charter, defending peace, defending the council’s credibility, why do you stand still?

Let me make myself clear: Despite the outrageous attacks, Indonesia remains firmly committed to UN peacekeeping. We are proud that our Constitution mandates Indonesia to contribute to a world order based on freedom, lasting peace and social justice.

We are proud to be the world’s fifth-largest contributor of troops and police to UN peacekeeping and the largest contingent in UNIFIL.

We will stand our ground.

Nevertheless, let me ask this final question to all permanent members of the Security Council: Our peacekeepers have delivered on their mandates. When will you deliver on yours?

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The writer is a senior Indonesian diplomat.