Israel ousts UN agency amid rising tensions with Hamas
Israeli parliamentarians have decided to expel workers of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) from their country. The government in Tel Aviv accuses them of "terrorist activities against Israel." The UN defends itself by arguing that Israel has not provided any evidence for this.
On Monday, the Israeli Knesset voted on UNRWA. Parliamentarians passed a bill by an overwhelming majority that prohibits the agency from conducting any activity or providing any services within Israel or from its territory.
The second of the adopted bills breaks formal ties with this organisation and prohibits Israeli officials and institutions from cooperating with UNRWA. The regulations are to come into force after 90 days.
Changes in the law are a consequence of accusations by the authorities in Tel Aviv, who, for several months, have accused 12 UNRWA employees of direct involvement in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
"UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable," stated a communiqué issued by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel expels UN agency. "Unprecedented vote"
"The vote by the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) against @UNRWA this evening is unprecedented and sets a dangerous precedent. It opposes the UN Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law," wrote UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini on platform X. He added that the new Israeli law will exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip, and its adoption should be viewed as "collective punishment."
Earlier, the agency stated that Israel has never provided convincing evidence confirming the alleged links of its employees with Hamas.
The European Union and the United States have expressed concern about the new law.
Israel bans the activities of the aid organisation
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) employs over 30,000 workers, of whom 13,000 are in the Gaza Strip. Most of them are Palestinians.
Funded by other countries’ governments, UNRWA runs schools, provides medical care, and provides social services. It currently plays a significant role in delivering humanitarian aid to residents of the Gaza Strip, which has been caught in a year-long war.
