Israel bans UN agency for Palestinians over alleged ties to terrorism
Photo: Israel bans UN agency for Palestinians over terrorism (Getty Images)
Israel has officially notified the United Nations of the termination of the agreement that has governed its relations with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The main UN organization for Palestinian refugees is accused of involvement in terrorism, reports Reuters.
Last month, the Israeli parliament passed a law that prohibits UNRWA from operating in Israel and prevents the Israeli authorities from cooperating with the organization, which provides assistance and educational services to millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israel claims that more than 10% of UNRWA staff in the Gaza Strip are affiliated with terror and that educational institutions under the organization's auspices constantly incite hatred of Israel and glorify terror.
In February, the Israeli Defense Forces revealed the existence of an underground Hamas data center directly under the UNRWA headquarters in the Gaza Strip. The IDF has also repeatedly targeted Hamas command centers and militants hiding in UNRWA schools.
Reaction to Israel's decision
The bill has alarmed the UN and some of Israel's Western allies, who fear that it will further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been fighting Hamas militants for a year. The ban does not apply to operations in the Palestinian territories or elsewhere.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said in a statement that despite the irrefutable evidence Israel submitted to the UN "highlighting how Hamas infiltrated UNRWA, the UN did nothing to address this reality.”
The legislation does not directly prohibit UNRWA's activities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which are considered under international law to be outside the State of Israel but under Israeli control.
Yet, it will severely affect UNRWA's ability to operate in these areas, so deep concern has arisen among humanitarian organizations and many of Israel's partners.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has stated that the activities of other international organizations will be expanded and “preparations will be made to end the connection with UNRWA and to boost alternatives to UNRWA.”
UNRWA, or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), supports Palestinian refugees in various countries in the Middle East, including providing educational and medical services in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Recently, the Israeli parliament (Knesset) passed a law that bans UNRWA from operating in Israel and East Jerusalem. This decision was the result of long-standing accusations of UNRWA of facilitating the activities of radical groups, including Hamas. Israel claimed that some of the agency's employees were involved in attacks on Israel and collaborated with terrorist organizations.
