Israel’s move to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has escalated tensions between Israel and the UN, according to the Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour. The Israeli parliament approved bills on Monday aimed at banning UNRWA, which provides aid to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, as well as in surrounding countries.
Mansour criticized Israel for its treatment of UN staff and peacekeepers, and called for action from the international community in response to Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA. He highlighted the essential aid, schooling, and healthcare services provided by UNRWA in Palestinian territories and to Palestinian refugees for over seventy years.
Israeli authorities have long sought to dismantle UNRWA, alleging that it fosters anti-Israeli sentiment. UNRWA disputes this characterization, with its head Philippe Lazzarini calling the Israeli parliament’s vote a “dangerous precedent” aimed at discrediting the agency’s work.
The Security Council session took place as Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza, with at least 115 people killed on Tuesday, according to Palestinian authorities. Mansour urged the Security Council to take action to end the violence and hold Israel accountable for its actions.
Countries around the world, including Russia, China, and European countries, as well as human rights organizations, have condemned Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA. The UN secretary-general has pledged to address the issue with the General Assembly, with potential sanctions against Israel being considered.
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