U.N. peacekeepers will maintain their current positions in Lebanon despite Israeli calls for them to relocate as fighting with Hezbollah intensifies, their chief, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again demanded on Monday that U.N. peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon withdraw from certain positions near the border, stating that it was completely "false" that Israeli forces had targeted UNIFIL, the UN force in Lebanon.

Tensions between Israel and UNIFIL have risen in recent days, with five soldiers injured by the Israeli army, leading to sharp criticism of Israel.

"It has been decided that UNIFIL will keep all its positions despite calls from the Israeli army for it to vacate the positions near the Blue Line" between Lebanon and Israel, Lacroix added.

"I want to emphasize that this decision remains valid," he said, explaining that it was approved earlier on Monday by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres.

Benjamin Netanyahu also stated on Monday that Israel would continue "to strike relentlessly at Hezbollah" in Lebanon, following the deadliest attack by the movement on Israeli soil in nearly a month of military escalation. He reiterated that Hezbollah was using "UNIFIL facilities and positions as cover to carry out its attacks" against Israel.

UNIFIL, which has over 9,500 members, is deployed in southern Lebanon as a buffer with Israel. It has condemned "shocking violations" by Israel against its positions, noting the "forceful" entry of two Israeli tanks into one of its positions on Sunday.

The Israeli army said that one of its tanks had struck a UNIFIL post while evacuating injured soldiers.

The UN Security Council has expressed alarm over the situation, stating that members have voiced strong concerns after several UNIFIL positions came under fire in recent days.

In the context of ongoing hostilities along the Blue Line, the Council has shared its concerns, currently articulated by the rotating presidency held by Switzerland.