Israel’s transfer to ban the United Nations Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) marks a “new stage” in its conflict with the UN, the Palestinian envoy to the UN has mentioned.
The Israeli parliament or Knesset authorised payments on Monday aimed toward banning UNRWA from working in Israel.
UNRWA helps Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the occupied West Financial institution, occupied East Jerusalem, in addition to surrounding international locations.
Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour informed the UN Safety Council on Tuesday that the Knesset’s laws to ban UNRWA “constitutes a brand new stage on this conflict in opposition to the UN and an integral a part of an all-out assault on the Palestinian folks”.
He famous how Israel had declared UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres “persona non grata” – and had killed, detained and tortured UN employees and UN peacekeepers.
Mansour famous many international locations condemned Israel’s determination to ban UNRWA.
“And but Israel nonetheless sits amongst us and utilises its seat to incite in opposition to the UN … When will the condemnations result in actions and accountability?” Mansour questioned.
UNRWA has offered important support, education, and healthcare throughout the Palestinian territory and to Palestinian refugees elsewhere for greater than seven many years.
However since Israel’s conflict on Gaza started final October, the company itself has suffered heavy losses, with no less than 223 of its employees killed and two-thirds of its amenities in Gaza broken or destroyed.
Danny Danon, Israel’s consultant on the UN, informed the Safety Council that UNRWA in Gaza has turn into a entrance for Hamas, the Palestinian armed group.
Israeli authorities have lengthy known as for the company to be dismantled, arguing that its mission is out of date and it fosters anti-Israeli sentiment amongst its employees, in its faculties and in its wider social mission. UNRWA strongly disputes this characterisation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has prior to now additionally known as on america, Israel’s prime ally and the company’s greatest donor, to roll again its assist.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini known as the vote by Israeli lawmakers a “harmful precedent” and mentioned that it was the most recent in an ongoing marketing campaign to discredit the company and “delegitimise its function in the direction of offering human growth help and providers to Palestine refugees”.
Israel’s determination to ban UNRWA would symbolize a type of collective punishment for Gaza’s folks if absolutely carried out, UN humanitarian workplace spokesperson Jens Laerke mentioned.
Russia, China, Qatar, European international locations and rights organisations around the globe additionally condemned the vote within the Israeli parliament.
Reporting from UN headquarters in New York Metropolis, Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo mentioned dozens of nations have expressed assist for UNRWA.
“The UN secretary-general has mentioned he’s going to take this subject up with the Basic Meeting (GA). There may be some motion behind the scenes within the GA to place sanctions in opposition to Israel,” Elizondo added.
The Safety Council session got here as Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza, killing no less than 115 folks on Tuesday, together with 109 within the north of the territory, in response to Palestinian authorities.
“Israel has crossed each purple line, damaged each rule, defied each prohibition. When is sufficient actually sufficient? When are you going to behave? You’re the Safety Council. It’s a must to attain each single one who’s in ache among the many Palestinians. That’s your responsibility,” Mansour mentioned on the UN Safety Council assembly.
“By ending impunity and making certain accountability, by lastly bringing to an finish this horrible injustice, let your actions match your phrases. Cease this genocide or endlessly stay silent.”