The Palestinian aid organization UNRWA will have to stop its work in Israel next year. The Israeli parliament passed a bill banning the organization from operating on Israeli territory.
This means that the organization can hardly continue its activities in the Palestinian territories because Israel controls the border crossings. This greatly limits the work of the Palestinian aid organization.
In the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, which has a total of 120 seats, 92 members of the government and opposition voted in favor of the project. UN Secretary General António Guterres and Israel’s key Western allies had spoken out clearly against the plans.
The wording has been toned down
Israel accuses the organization of some of its employees being involved in terrorist activities, such as the massacre by the Islamist Hamas on October 7 last year. An initially planned official classification of UNRWA as a terrorist organization was no longer part of two bills on the subject on the Knesset agenda.
However, authorities in Israel will no longer have contact with the organization once the new law comes into effect. This should be done within 90 days of publication. The aid agency should halt all activities on Israeli soil – this especially affects the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem.
Turmoil in the Israeli parliament
There were angry debates in Parliament before the vote. An Arab lawmaker spoke of a “fascist law” aimed at the continued oppression of the Palestinian people. The initiators responded with loud shouts and after several warnings a representative had to be removed from the room.
UN Secretary General António Guterres spoke out clearly against the plan. Such a law would stifle efforts to alleviate human suffering and tensions in the region, he warned.
“It would be a catastrophe within an already complete disaster.” There are fears, especially in the embattled Gaza Strip, that there will be dramatic consequences for the population of some two million people who depend on vital aid from UNRWA.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini spoke of a “dangerous precedent” and “collective punishment”. The Knesset’s decision contradicts the UN Charter and violates the obligations of the State of Israel under international law.
According to media reports, representatives of the Israeli Foreign Ministry also expressed concern about the practical consequences. In the worst case, Israel could be excluded from the United Nations. But the US could prevent this through a veto in the Security Council.
Time and again criticism of aid organizations
Israel has repeatedly made serious accusations against UNRWA in the past. According to these data, several employees of the organization were involved in the massacre on October 7, 2023 and the organization as a whole was infiltrated by Hamas. Anti-Semitic content was also taught in the aid organization’s schools.
Shortly before the Knesset’s decision, seven Western countries expressed “deep concern” about the legislative plans. In a statement, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea “strongly” called on the Israeli government to meet its international obligations.
UNRWA’s prerogatives should not be limited and humanitarian assistance and basic services for the civilian population should continue to be provided. The ministers emphasized that UNRWA has taken steps to address allegations of individual staff members’ support for terrorist organizations.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
