New Zealand army chief to command UN peacekeepers in Middle East

The head of the New Zealand army is to take command of United Nations peacekeeping troops in Israel and bordering nations, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said Wednesday.

Chief of Army, Major General Dave Gawn had been appointed head of mission/chief of staff to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Tim Keating said in a statement.

"Major-General Gawn's appointment to this role is testament to his strong leadership. His ability to undertake a significant role on the international stage is an achievement he can be extremely proud of," Keating said.

Gawn is scheduled to take over the post from Major General Michael Finn, of Ireland, on Aug. 1.

UNTSO was the first peacekeeping operation established by the United Nations, with the first military observers arriving in the Middle East in June 1948.

Its activities are spread over five host countries: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic.

UNTSO military observers in the Middle East monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating and assist other peacekeeping operations in the region to fulfill their mandates.

Twenty-six countries contribute military personnel to the mission, including China, Russia, Australia, Canada and the United States, according to the UN website.

Currently eight NZDF personnel are serving with UNTSO in the Middle East.