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Borrell warns that the end of UNRWA “even more” jeopardizes the political resolution of the conflict in the Middle East

The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, warned this Friday that the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA), whose activity was banned by the Israeli Parliament on Monday, Will go. “Finding a political solution” to the conflict in the Palestinian territories is even more difficult.

He said, “The collapse of the agency would unilaterally change the parameters of any future political settlement of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, undermine the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and make the search for a political solution even more difficult.”

These words come after the Knesset approved a law this Monday that bans all activities of the UN agency in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

In a statement, the head of European diplomacy reiterated that the law contradicts international law, in addition to “fundamental principles of humanity.” 27 also condemned the measure, warning that if implemented it would “de facto disrupt” UNRWA’s operations in the Gaza Strip, which in turn would have “serious consequences for millions of people”.

Borrell has condemned the Israeli authorities’ efforts to make UN operations in the Palestinian enclave “almost impossible”, in addition to the fact that the dismantling is being carried out “at (a) critical moment”, when the phases of integrated food security Classification (IPC) warns that if nothing changes, about 345,000 people in the Gaza Strip will reach the highest level of starvation in the next month: at least ten days without food.

“One day we will be asked: “Where were we Europeans when people in Gaza were surrounded and starving?” Our response should echo not our silence, but the actions we took to protect UNRWA. “We must talk about actions, which are the last lifeline for many Gazans,” he declared, maintaining that “(its) future is a testament to our humanity.”

Israel has argued for years that UNRWA is a passive agency and has colluded with Hamas in attacks on the country, since the Gaza war began. Borrell has criticized what he said was an attempt by the Hebrew Executive to discredit the agency when in March 2023 it said “without providing evidence” that 10% of its 13,000 employees were “linked to Hamas or Islamic Jihad.”

The end of UNRWA, he assured, “will not contribute to a secure future for the people of the region.” Its mission will end when a “sovereign Palestinian state” exists. “Only a political settlement can bring security and peace to Israelis and Palestinians,” he said. (ep)