The United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency, Unrwa, has been banned from operating in Israel after a law was enacted on Monday. This decision could significantly impact its operations in the conflicted Gaza region. The legislation was promoted by Israeli politicians who stated that several Unrwa staff were implicated in an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. They also claim that some members of the agency are part of Hamas and other armed factions.
Micheál Martin, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, has vehemently denounced the move, stating that it would have severe repercussions for the Palestinians and was unacceptable. He also called upon the international community to oppose this action. Taoiseach Simon Harris labelled the decision as disastrous and shameful and noted it would be remembered as the time when Israel decided to sever a crucial humanitarian lifeline towards a zone plagued by humanitarian disaster.
The legislation has prompted concern from the United Nations and some western allies of Israel, who fear it might exacerbate the already critical humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has been battling Hamas militants for over a year. The prohibition doesn’t encompass operations in the Palestinian territories or any other areas. Unrwa employs tens of thousands of individuals and offers education, health, and aid services to millions of Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Israel’s relationship with Unrwa has been strained for a long time and has sharply declined since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Israel has consistently advocated for Unrwa’s dissolution, suggesting its responsibilities be delegated to other UN agencies. In August, the UN revealed that nine Unrwa staff may have participated in the October 7th attack and were terminated as a result. It was also found that a Hamas commander, who was killed in an Israeli strike last month, held a position at Unrwa. Another commander, who was killed last week in Gaza, was also acting as an aid worker.
Israeli official Sharren Haskel expressed the need for the United Nations to purge itself of terrorism and any link to Hamas activists. She stressed that if the UN remains unwilling to do so, Israel will be forced to take necessary precautions to shield its citizens.
Moreover, Haskel highlighted that the global community could have assumed responsibility, ensuring humanitarian assistance is delivered by appropriate bodies, such as the World Food Organisation, Unicef and several others that operate globally.
However, a representative of Unrwa expressed alarm by stating that the suggested law would create a “catastrophe” and gravely hamper humanitarian efforts in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Unrwa’s primary spokesperson, Juliette Touma, pointed out the successive failures of previous initiatives aimed at replacing Unrwa and delivering humanitarian help.
She criticised that it’s astounding for a United Nation member nation to seek the disbanding of a UN agency, in this instance Unrwa, which is notably the primary responder in the humanitarian response in Gaza.
The proposed legislation may significantly affect Unrwa’s institutions located in East Jerusalem, an area unilaterally annexed by Israel, a move not internationally recognized.
Boaz Bismuth, another proponent of the law, accused Unrwa’s function in East Jerusalem as having been detrimental for a long time. He made a point that if genuine stability and peace in the Middle East were the goal, Unrwa and the like wouldn’t lead to it. It’s clear that Israel is under significant global pressure to relief the humanitarian distress in Gaza and offer increased aid to those displaced due to Israel’s efforts.
Prior to the law’s approval, the foreign ministers of several nations including France, Germany, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Australia, expressed their deep worry.
Their joint statement underlined the vital necessity for organisations like Unrwa and other UN bodies to have the capacity to dispatch humanitarian aid and extend their assistance to the most in need, thereby executing their mandates effectively. [Reuters]