Israel’s transfer to ban the United Nations Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) marks a “new degree” in its battle with the UN, the Palestinian envoy to the UN has mentioned.
The Israeli parliament or Knesset accepted payments on Monday geared 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 instructed the UN Safety Council on Tuesday that the Knesset’s laws to ban UNRWA “constitutes a brand new degree on this battle 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 choice 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 assist, education, and healthcare throughout the Palestinian territory and to Palestinian refugees elsewhere for greater than seven a long time.
However since Israel’s battle on Gaza started final October, the company itself has suffered heavy losses, with not less than 223 of its employees killed and two-thirds of its services in Gaza broken or destroyed.
Danny Danon, Israel’s consultant on the UN, instructed the Safety Council that UNRWA in Gaza has develop 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Israeli authorities have lengthy known as for the company to be dismantled, arguing that its mission is out of date and it fosters anti-Israeli sentiment amongst its employees, in its colleges and in its wider social mission. UNRWA strongly disputes this characterisation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has up 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 position in the direction of offering human improvement help and companies to Palestine refugees”.
Israel’s choice to ban UNRWA would signify 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 all over the world 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 situation 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 not less than 115 folks on Tuesday, together with 109 within the north of the territory, in keeping with Palestinian authorities.
“Israel has crossed each pink 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 eternally stay silent.”
