Seven Israel allies, including UK and Germany, condemn proposed UNRWA ban
A man wearing an UNRWA vest reacts as people carry the bodies of UNRWA workers who were killed when Israeli strikes hit their truck on 23 October 2024
Middle East Eye reports on 28 October 2024:
The foreign ministers of seven of Israel’s allies have issued a joint statement condemning proposed Israeli legislation to ban UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Germany, France, Britain, Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea warned the bills could have “devastating consequences” in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
UNRWA is the primary source of humanitarian support for Palestinians in Palestine and neighbouring countries hosting Palestinian refugees.
The proposed legislation, which Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, is discussing on Monday, would ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and occupied Palestine.
The bills would prohibit Israeli officials from providing services or dealing with UNRWA employees – and outright ban UNRWA from operating in areas under Israeli control.
The joint statement warned: “Without [Unrwa’s] work, the provision of such assistance and services, including education, healthcare, and fuel distribution in Gaza and the West Bank would be severely hampered if not impossible, with devastating consequences on an already critical and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, particularly in northern Gaza.”
The ministers urged Israel to permit UN agencies to carry out their work in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere.
Israel’s government has long been hostile towards UNRWA. In late January, Israel accused 12 UNRWA workers of involvement in the 7 October Hamas-led attacks, alleging they had distributed ammunition and aided in civilian kidnappings.
A UN inquiry published in April found no evidence of wrongdoing by UNRWA staff, noting that Israel had neither responded to requests for names and information nor “informed UNRWA of any concrete concerns relating to UNRWA staff since 2011”.
The foreign ministers noted UNRWA “has taken steps to address allegations regarding individual employees’ support” for Palestinian armed groups “and demonstrated its willingness to pursue and implement reform of internal processes”.
“We call on UNRWA to continue its path of reform as a priority, demonstrating its commitment to the principle of neutrality, and ensure that its activities remain entirely in line with its mandate,” they added.