Israeli parliament passes law banning UN agency for Palestinian refugees

(Patria) - The Israeli parliament today approved a law banning the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Israel, despite US objections, reports RSE.

UNRWA, whose work could be jeopardized by the law's entry into force, is the main UN agency providing assistance to people in the Gaza Strip.

The agency has long been the target of Israeli criticism, which has intensified since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip following Hamas's deadly attacks on October 7 last year.

Israel accuses UNRWA of having close ties to Hamas members.

Lawmakers passed the law with 92 votes in favor and 10 against, after a heated debate between supporters and opponents of the law, mostly members of Arab parliamentary parties.

The law, which would not immediately enter into force, risks collapsing the already fragile aid distribution as the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip worsens.

Israel is also under increased US pressure to increase aid delivery to the Palestinian coastal territory.

UNRWA strongly condemned the adoption of the law by the Israeli parliament banning its activities in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem.

The vote by the Israeli Parliament against @UNRWA is unprecedented. It opposes the @UN Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law.

Failing to push back against these bills will weaken our common multilateral mechanism.

This should be a… https://t.co/kx5JJOVEGe

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 28, 2024

- What a UN member state is doing to dismantle a UN agency that is also heavily involved in the humanitarian operation in Gaza is unprecedented - UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma told AFP.

She assessed that the implementation of the law would be a "catastrophe", partly due to the impact it would likely have on humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip and in several parts of the West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that UNRWA workers must be held accountable for what he called their "terrorist activities" against the country.

In a post on the X platform, Netanyahu said that lasting humanitarian aid must continue to be available in Gaza "now and in the future".

Another bill was also voted on today, which would sever diplomatic ties with UNRWA.



While the adoption of the law could cripple the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, where more than 1.9 million Palestinians are displaced and facing shortages of food, water, and medicine, Israel claims that some of the thousands of UNRWA staff participated in Hamas's attack that triggered the war in Gaza.

Israel also claims to have found Hamas military assets near or under UNRWA facilities. The agency denies knowingly assisting armed groups and says it is working to remove anyone suspected of being linked to Hamas from its ranks.

- The laws will enter into force 60 to 90 days after the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs notifies the UN - said a spokesperson for one of the bill's proponents.

The bills were sharply criticized by international aid groups and several of Israel's Western allies before their adoption in parliament.

- The US has made it clear to Israel that it is deeply concerned about the bill to ban UNRWA, as it plays an indispensable role in providing humanitarian aid in the enclave - said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller today.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed London's "deep regret" over the law banning UNRWA.

- The accusations against UNRWA staff earlier this year were fully investigated and offer no justification for severing ties with UNRWA - Lammy said.



He added that banning an organization that provides healthcare, education, and aid in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank would not be in Israel's "interest".

Israel announced today that it has discussed with international mediators a draft proposal for talks with Hamas on a deal to release Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, while its forces attacked Lebanon and the Palestinian territory.

Prime Minister Netanyahu's office announced that Mossad intelligence chief David Barnea met with US and Qatari officials in Doha and agreed that a deal to release Israelis captured in the October 7 attack last year should be discussed with Hamas.

The announcement came two days after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proposed a two-day ceasefire and a limited exchange of hostages and prisoners, which he said could lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities.

- During the meeting, the parties discussed a new unified framework that combines previous proposals and also takes into account key issues and recent developments in the region - Netanyahu's office stated.



The statement added that "discussions between mediators and Hamas will continue in the coming days to assess the feasibility of negotiations."