Israel’s parliament has begun considering a bill to prosecute the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East and prevent it from operating in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The UNRWUAthe United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East has called on the UN Security Council to act to protect its mandate to operate in the Gaza Strip and other parts of the region until a peaceful solution is reached, despite Israel’s problems. plan to declare it terrorist organization.
“If Israel passes laws that would ban UNRWA’s work, in addition to the catastrophic consequences for Palestinians, this would set a dangerous precedent for future humanitarian operations in conflict areas,” the organization’s Commissioner General warned. Antonia De Meo.
These statements come after the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, voted in its first reading to declare UNRWA a terrorist organization and sever all ties between the organization and the State of Israel.
In a session requested by Russia and Algeria to analyze the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, De Meo denounced that the proposal, if approved, “will have serious and immediate consequences: it will put all UNRWA staff at risk.”
Furthermore, he warned: “it erodes the foundations of international law and multilateral norms.” “We cannot allow this to become a new standard for future humanitarian operations in conflict zones around the world. Together, we must reject calls to dismantle the agency,” he stressed.
This Knesset plan is in line with other “coordinated efforts” by the Israeli government against UNRWA, such as denying entry permits to humanitarian personnel.
“Many UN officials, as well as NGO staff, have been denied visas to enter Israel. The UNRWA Commissioner-General’s visa expired more than a month ago and has not yet been renewed,” the organization’s UNRWA Commissioner explained, defending its existence “because there is no Palestinian state that can provide public services in its place.”
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
