The Israeli Knesset is preparing to pass a law banning UNRWA activity

KnessetHe israeli parliamentComes back stronger. After the longest recess in its history with a three-month rest, the deputies resumed their parliamentary activity this Monday with the aim of Pass laws against UNRWAunited nations agency for Palestinian refugeesDespite strong objections from the administration of US President Joe Biden European Union And UN lawmakers themselves envision the legislation to essentially ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and severely restrict its activities in occupied Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The first bill would prevent state authorities from doing so Any contact with UNRWA one stating that the agency will no longer “directly or indirectly operate any institution, provide any service or carry out any activity” in Israel, while another prohibits the agency from operating on Israeli territory if the deadline expires. Will give. Treaty between Israel and UNRWASigned after the Six Day War in 1967. Both laws have been promoted by its members Likud Prime Minister’s binyamin netanyahuThe third bill seeks to declare that “Terrorist organization”On July 22, these three proposed pieces of legislation were approved in the first reading, awaiting passage of the second and third readings upon returning from recess to become law in force in Israel.

Since the beginning of the offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has already exceeded 43,000 died In less than 13 months, Israel doubled its attacks against UNRWA. In January he accused a dozen of his workers of actively participating October 7 attack done by Hamas and other Palestinian militias. The agency launched an internal investigation and fired them, but that didn’t stop several countries from deciding to withdraw their funds. Except for people from the United States, they are all gradually returning in these months. An independent investigation led by a former French minister was launched in March outer catherine colonnaSupported the neutrality of the agency’s humanitarian activity, although it noted areas in which the group could improve.

no conclusive evidence

Now, Israel defends passing these laws because it believes that some 2,100 UNRWA staff are active in HamasWithout providing conclusive evidence of this allegation. agency, what does the abbreviation mean in english Public Works and Relief Agency The United Nations establishment for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East is as old as the State of Israel. It was created within the framework of the 1948 war, which caused the exodus 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes by the Jewish militias who created the Hebrew state. Today, it offers Education, health care and support To the millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. at least 30,000 people They work there to provide services to populations that are typically neglected by the governments of the countries that host them.

But now, if Israel succeeds in preventing UNRWA staff from coming into contact with its officials, in practice this would mean impossibility To complete your essential activities. in charge of tel aviv issue entry permit Without coordination with both Gaza and the West Bank, and with Jewish institutions, it would be impossible for UNRWA to work in those areas. Furthermore, the lack of coordination with Israeli militarywhich currently controls access to Gaza from Egypt, would physically block them from accessing the penal enclave, as well as the occupied Palestinian territories surrounded by dozens of Israeli checkpoints.

Biden protest

Antonio GuterresThe Secretary-General of the United Nations has said that approval of this legislation would be a “catastrophe”. josep borrellThe EU’s top diplomat has warned of “disastrous consequences”. “The progress of these bills shows even more Israel’s well thought out strategy Condemned the infliction of suffering and death on Palestinians, adding to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. AdalahLegal Center for the Rights of Arab Minorities in Israel. “Israel’s attacks on UNRWA systematically stem from denial of rights of millions of Palestinian refugees,” he said in a statement.

The Israeli press reports that a third bill, which would have sought to declare the agency a “terrorist organization”, is no longer on the table due to problems. legal hurdlesBut the other two seem to be moving forward unperturbed by the opposition expressed in recent times by countries like Canada, Sweden, Australia. FranceGermany, Japan, the united kingdomSouth Korea or the European Union. At the beginning of the month, the Biden administration also sent a letter to israeli officials Showing their disapproval towards the approval of these laws. “Imposing such restrictions will devastate humanitarian response “Gaza”, as well as the provision of “vital” services in East Jerusalem, the letter warned. UNRWA serves approximately six million Palestinians across the region.