Israel’s UNRWA Ban: Will the International Community Step Up to Fill the Aid Void in Gaza
A few days ago, Israel announced a ban on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and said it was committed to bringing aid to Gaza through other “non-terrorist” agencies. Statement by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Israel is committed to international law and to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza through the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), international (non-terrorist) organizations. Food programs, and others,” the ministry’s statement said.
Israel considers the UN body “infiltrated by Palestinian armed groups”, led by the Hamas movement – classified as a terrorist organization in the US and other countries – and has banned its work.
But the Security Council and some international organizations seem to have a different view of UNRWA’s work.
Security Council
Members of the Security Council emphasized the importance of UNRWA’s vital role in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees through education, health and relief programs, basic social services and emergency assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. Syria.
and in Press release Issued on Wednesday, Security Council members stressed that UNRWA remains the backbone of all humanitarian responses in Gaza, and that no agency can replace or supersede UNRWA’s capacity and mandate to serve Palestinian refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
They strongly warned against any attempt to dismantle or reduce UNRWA’s activities and mandate, aware that any interruption or suspension of its work would have dire humanitarian consequences for the millions of Palestinian refugees who depend on the agency’s services, as well as for the region. response.
Extreme anxiety
Members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern about the legislation adopted by the Israeli Knesset regarding UNRWA.
In this regard, they call on the Israeli government to comply with its international obligations, to respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA, and to fulfill its obligations to provide full, prompt, safe and unhindered access to all forms of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Strip, including the provision of basic services desperately needed by the civilian population.
They called on all parties to implement UNRWA’s mandate, adopted by the General Assembly, in all areas of operations, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, integrity and independence, and with respect for international humanitarian law. The United Nations and the Protection of Humanitarian Facilities.
They “strongly warned against any attempt to dismantle or undermine UNRWA’s activities and mandate, stressing that any obstruction or suspension of its work would have dire humanitarian consequences for the millions of Palestinian refugees who depend on the agency’s services and throughout the region.” will reflect.”
UNICEF
she said UNICEF in a statement “UNRWA is the main UN agency providing basic services and protection to Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza,” he revealed on Wednesday. As Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, “UNRWA has no choice.”
He added, “UNRWA is the only agency mandated to meet the needs of Palestinian refugees, with 18,000 staff in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and providing basic services such as health and education to Palestinian refugees.” can’t take it.”
He continued, “UNRWA is essential to provide urgent, life-saving assistance to the 2.2 million people in Gaza. The children of Gaza are already facing the most serious humanitarian crisis in modern history. If this decision (sanctions) is fully implemented, it will be fatal.”
On Monday, the Israeli parliament approved by an overwhelming majority (92 to 10) a draft law banning UNRWA activities inside the country.
A draft law banning communications with UN agencies was also passed (87 against 9).
UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, considered that the Israeli parliament’s vote was “unprecedented, sets a dangerous precedent, contradicts the UN Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law.”
Global Health Organization
description Dr. Director General of the World Health Organization The UN official, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the development as “intolerable” and a “threat to the lives and health” of those dependent on UNRWA.
WHO spokesman, Tarek Jasarevic, noted that one in four UNRWA workers in Gaza is a health worker doing routine but life-saving work. He said they “basically provided more than 6 million medical consultations last year at health centers run by the United Nations, and they provided this consultation to more than half of the population of Gaza.”
He explained that these health teams are responsible for routine immunization of children, including anti-polio vaccination and screening for disease and malnutrition.
He said, “UNRWA has about 3,000 health workers, which is truly unparalleled and no organization, including the World Health Organization, can compensate for that.”