Ireland has joined three other European countries in condemning Israel’s move to ban a UN aid agency from working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Israel’s parliament yesterday banned UNWRA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) from operating in Israel.
The decision will severely restrict the aid organisation’s work in Gaza and the West Bank where access is controlled by Israel.
The move has been condemned by the UN – with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning that it “could have devastating consequences” for people in the Occupied Territory.
Palestinian children inspect damage to Al-Aliya Kindergarten after it was bombed by Israel in Jabalia camp north of Gaza, 14-9-24. Image: SOPA Images Limited / AlamySeparately, the Governments of Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain condemned the decision.
“UNRWA has a mandate from the United Nations General Assembly,” they said in a joint statement.
“The work of the agency is essential and irreplaceable for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region, and particularly in the current context in Gaza.
“The legislation approved by the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) sets a very serious precedent for the work of the United Nations and for all organizations of the multilateral system.”
The four countries said they would continue to work to ensure the viability of UNRWA's work and its humanitarian role.
'Horrific, reckless and dangerous'
The Israeli decision has also been condemned by aid agencies – with ActionAid CEO Karol Balfe labelling It “horrific, reckless and dangerous”.
“UNRWA is a vital, vital lifeline for a starving and traumatised population and this decision is just unbelievable,” she said.
“It comes in the context of Israel still bombing Gaza and still massively restricting aid.
“People there are either experiencing famine or on the brink of famine and it is completely in contravention of the very clear ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).”
Palestinian Children receive UNRWA food aid in Gaza City, 15-09-2020. Image: Majdi Fathi/NurPhotoShe noted that the ICJ ruling ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent genocide in Gaza and ensure that humanitarian aid is permitted to enter the area.
In a social media post yesterday, the Taoiseach Simon Harris said the Israeli move “disastrous and shameful”.
“He said it will “go down in history as the moment Israel voted to cut off an irreplaceable humanitarian pipeline to a humanitarian disaster zone”.
In a statement, he said “people will die” if UNRWA is blocked from carrying out its mission.
“UNRWA works on a mandate given to it by the United Nations,” he said.
“All member states should condemn the legislation, call on Israel to repeal it immediately and redouble their support to UNRWA and the Palestinian people.”
A UNRWA member inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Nuseirat refugee camp, 14/05/2024. Image: Imago / Alamy Stock PhotoUNRWA provides aid to more than five million Palestinian refugees; however, the organisation has come under repeated attack from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had claimed it has links to Hamas and other militant groups.
The new laws passed in the Knesset on Monday banned the agency from having any ties to Israeli officials and stripped its staff of their legal immunities.
The Israeli parliament also declared the group a terror organisation.
The legislation will take effect 60 to 90 days after Israel's foreign ministry notifies the UN, according to the spokesman for politician Dan Illouz, one of the co-sponsors of one of the bills.
'Devastating consequences'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the news laws "could have devastating consequences for Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory".
Guterres added that he would bring the matter to the attention of the UN General Assembly.
UNRWA's chief Philippe Lazzarini has warned the ban "will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians, especially in Gaza".
Main image shows people inspecting the rubble at a school after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo
Additional reporting from IRN.
