The Israeli parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bill banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ("UNRWA") from operating in Israel, despite US and UN objections.
The agency condemned this as an "outrageous" measure against UNRWA, the main actor in humanitarian operations in Gaza, which has been besieged and devastated by the more than year-long war between Israel and Hamas.
Philippe Lazarini, head of the agency, said the ban "sets a dangerous precedent" and is the latest episode in an "ongoing campaign to discredit" the agency. He believes the ban will "exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians".
Hamas condemned "Zionist aggression" against Palestinians. Islamic Jihad, its ally in the conflict, condemned the "escalation of genocide" against the population, AFP reported.
The text was approved by the Knesset with 92 votes in favour to 10 against, although Israel, which has long been highly critical of the agency, accused some UNRWA staff of having participated in the Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and of being militants of the Palestinian Islamist movement.
The second text, also adopted by a large majority (89 votes to 7), prohibits Israeli officials from working with UNRWA and its staff, which should significantly disrupt the agency's operations.
According to the Knesset, both laws will enter into force 90 days after their adoption.
If the ban is implemented, "it will be a disaster, especially because of the impact it is likely to have on humanitarian operations in Gaza and in several parts of the West Bank," said UNRWA spokeswoman Juliet Tuma.
"UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza and is primarily responsible for humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food and basic health care," the spokeswoman added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, said Israel, which strictly controls the entry of international aid shipments, was "ready" to provide humanitarian aid to the territory.
"We stand ready to work with our international partners to ensure that Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza in a manner that does not endanger Israel's security," Netanyahu wrote in an X.
Even before the vote, the United States had said it was "deeply troubled" by the text and urged the government not to endorse it," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, reiterating the agency's "critical" humanitarian role in Gaza.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK was "gravely concerned" by "this legislation, which risks making Unrwa's essential work for Palestinians impossible".
Germany "strongly criticised" the Israeli vote, which would make Unrwa's work in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem "virtually impossible, jeopardising vital humanitarian aid for millions of people". | BGNES
