The United States and other allies have condemned a recent Knesset vote that would ban the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRWA) from operating in Israel.
The BBC reports this.
The publication reminds that the adopted laws will come into force within three months and will not only prohibit UNRWA’s work in Israel and annexed East Jerusalem, but will also significantly limit its capabilities in occupied Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said: “We continue to urge the Israeli government not to enact this law and to reject it entirely.” Israel has long opposed UNRWA, and this opposition has intensified recently. He accuses some agency employees of being involved in the October 7 attack. The UN investigated and fired nine employees.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that UNRWA plays an indispensable role and that the ban would have a devastating impact on Palestinians. The Israeli attack on Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza killed at least 55 Palestinians and injured dozens, according to the local Health Ministry.
The UNRWA ban reflects growing discontent within the Israeli government and among politicians who believe that both the agency and the UN are biased against Israel, with some even accusing UNRWA of supporting Hamas. Israeli lawmaker Sharren Haskel, who supported the bill, said Israel has the right to act against UNRWA after the international community failed to live up to its responsibilities.
At the same time, many countries have expressed serious concerns about the ban, believing it could significantly worsen UNRWA’s already limited ability to provide vital services in the Gaza Strip. UNRWA is seen as an important support for the people of Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is increasingly critical.
The agency’s communications director, Juliet Tuma, expressed outrage at the ban in a message to the BBC: “The Israeli parliament’s vote against UNRWA sets a dangerous precedent and is unprecedented.”
Recall that Cursor wrote that Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, spoke at an emergency meeting of the Security Council about the Israeli attack on Iran. He issued a direct warning to Iranian leaders: “This is the final warning. Israel has shown restraint, but from now on you will see only force. Any new aggression will be met with a powerful and swift response.”
