The Israeli Parliament (Knesset) voted to ban the United Nations Agency (UNRWA). This law has a provision to stop the agency from working on Israeli soil. According to the BBC, this law was passed 92-10. According to the law, the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is helping people in Gaza, West Bank and other areas of Israel, will have to stop work within 3 months. UNRWA provides education, health services and other basic things to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, including the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This agency is helping 2.5 million people in Gaza and the West Bank. The passing of this law has increased the possibility of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as there is already a shortage of food, water and medicines here. At the same time, Israel says that UNRWA is in cahoots with Israel. UNRWA declared a terrorist group. Voting took place on another bill in the Knesset on Monday. In this, UNRWA was declared a terrorist organization and Israeli officials were banned from having any kind of contact with this UN organization. This law was passed by 87-9. Earlier UNRWA used to help people who migrated from Palestine and settled in other countries. In the year 1967, a treaty was signed between Israel and the United Nations. In this, UNRWA was also allowed to help Palestinian refugees in Israeli-occupied areas. This treaty has now been canceled due to voting in the Israeli Parliament. Israel said – UNRWA is in cahoots with Hamas Israel alleges that UNRWA employees are working in collaboration with Hamas and 19 employees of the agency took part in the attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Israel said that evidence has been found of hundreds of UNRWA employees being linked to Hamas. After Israel’s allegations, the United Nations started an investigation. In August, 9 staff of UNRWA were fired from their jobs. After this, the US and the European Union stopped funding UNRWA for some time. However, UNRWA deliberately refused to help Hamas. Netanyahu’s party leader said – UNRWA means Hamas
After the law was passed, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that humanitarian aid will continue to be available in Gaza now and later, but UNRWA workers involved in terrorist incidents in Israel should be held accountable. He said that there are still 90 days for the law to come into effect. Even after that we will work to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza. Netanyahu’s Likud party leader Boz Smith said that anyone who behaves like a terrorist has no right to live in Israel. UNRWA means Hamas. UNRWA Commissioner General Philip Lazzarini said that this is a violation of international law. There is an attempt to defame the UN organization and stop helping Palestinian refugees. He said that Israel’s move sets ‘a dangerous precedent’. International community expressed concern
Many countries including the US have expressed concern over the ban on UNRWA. Before the voting, the US had appealed to Israel not to pass this law. Foreign Minister Antony Blinken had said that UNRWA has played an important role in Gaza. The ban will make the work of the organization difficult there. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that he is concerned about this move of Israel. Apart from this, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea have also condemned this move of Israel. ……………………………………………. Also read this news related to UNRWA… Israel’s airstrike on Gaza school, 34 killed: These include 6 UN employees, Secretary General Guterres said – will not tolerate this Israel attacked Al-Jouni School and two houses in Gaza on 10 September. At least 34 people were killed and many were injured in this. Six UNRWA employees were also among the dead. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the school where refugees were staying was targeted. This will not be tolerated in any way. Read the full news here…
