‘Intolerable’, ‘dangerous precedent’: World condemns ban on Israel UNRWA | Israel-Palestine Conflicts News
The United Nations and countries around the world have criticized Israel after its parliament passed two laws calling the UN refugee agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) a “terrorist” group and banning the humanitarian organization from operating on Israeli soil.
The law, approved on Monday, would – if implemented – prevent UNRWA from providing life-saving aid to Palestinians throughout the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees who were driven from their homes during the creation of Israel and is still the main organization providing humanitarian services in Gaza, and supports millions of Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan. and Syria.
Here is a snapshot of the world’s reaction to Israel’s move:
Palestine
The Palestinian president rejected and criticized the Israeli law.
“We will not allow this. The surprising vote of the Knesset shows the transformation of Israel into a fascist state,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for the Presidential Office in Ramallah.
Hamas also criticized the move saying it considers the bill “part of the Zionist war and violence against our people”, while the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) called it “an increase in genocide” against Palestinians.
United nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the work of UNRWA “essential” and said “there is no other option” for the organization.
“The application of the laws can have painful consequences for Palestinian refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory, which is unacceptable,” urging Israel to “act in accordance with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and its other obligations under international law.”.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, on the other hand, said the Knesset’s move set a “dangerous precedent” as it “contradicts the UN Charter and violates the obligations of the State of Israel under international law”.
“These bills will only deepen the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in #Gaza where people have been through hell for over a year,” he wrote on X.
The Israeli Parliament (Knesset) voted against it @UNRWA this evening is unprecedented and sets a dangerous precedent. It is against the UN Charter and violates the obligations of the State of Israel under international law.
This is the latest in an ongoing smear campaign…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) October 28, 2024
China
Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the UN, called Israel’s move “outrageous”.
“We are strongly against this decision. As I said, this is a bad decision and we believe that UNRWA has played a major role in maintaining the way of life of the Palestinian people in Gaza,” he told reporters in New York.
Russia
Vasily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, described Israel’s UNRWA ban as “outrageous” and said it made the situation in Gaza worse. He also asked Israel’s main ally, the United States, to “pay UNRWA to show its commitment to this organization”.
The US withdrew funding from UNRWA after Israel accused some of the agency’s staff of participating in an October 7 attack by Hamas in southern Israel – a move by the US that critics called disproportionate.
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed deep concern and said the Israeli law “risks making UNRWA’s important work for the Palestinian people impossible”. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “absolutely unacceptable” and said Israel must ensure that sufficient aid reaches the residents of the area.
“Only UNRWA can deliver humanitarian aid at the scale and speed needed,” she said.
Jordan
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “strongly condemned” Israel’s action, describing it as “a clear violation of international law and Israel’s obligations as the ruling power” in Palestine. He warned that an Israeli campaign “aimed at killing UNRWA politically” would have “catastrophic consequences”.
Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain
The governments of four European countries – all of which recognize Palestinian statehood – issued a joint statement condemning the Knesset’s focus on the organization.
“UNRWA has a mandate from the United Nations General Assembly,” the statement noted. “The law approved by the Knesset sets a very bad example for the work of the United Nations and for all the organizations of the international system.”
Australia
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said UNRWA was doing life-saving work and her government opposed the Israeli Knesset’s decision to “severely limit” the agency’s work.
“Australia once again calls on Israel to comply with the mandatory orders of the [International Court of Justice] to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian aid on a scale in Gaza,” he wrote in X.
In Belgium
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib urged the Israeli authorities to allow UNRWA to carry out its work ordered by the UN General Assembly in the Middle East. Lahbib said the organization provides “life-saving services in Gaza, the West Bank – including East Jerusalem – and abroad in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan”.
“UNRWA is essential to regional stability,” he wrote in X.
in Switzerland
The Swiss Foreign Ministry said in an email to X that it was “concerned about the humanitarian, political and legal consequences” of Israel’s laws prohibiting cooperation with UNRWA.
World Health Organization
The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that UNRWA has been an “indisputable lifeline” for the Palestinian people for the past seven decades.
“UNRWA was established by UN member states. “Today’s decision by the Israeli parliament that stops UNRWA from its life-saving and life-protecting work on behalf of millions of Palestinians will have dire consequences,” he said on the X website.
“This is intolerable. It violates Israel’s obligations and commitments, and threatens the lives and livelihoods of all who rely on UNRWA.”
