AFP – Israel, backed by Washington, will cease contact with the United Nation’s (UN) Palestinian humanitarian relief agency UNRWA and anybody acting on its behalf, its UN envoy said, drawing condemnation from aid groups.
Signaling a shift in the United States (US) position on the agency by the administration of US President Donald Trump, a US envoy voiced support for the decision and called for a probe into Israeli claims UNRWA sites were used by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
UNRWA’s offices and staff in Israel play a major role in the provision of healthcare and education to Palestinians, including those living in Gaza, devastated by 15 months of war with Israel.
Fighting destroyed hospitals and sparked outbreaks of infectious disease, while hundreds of thousands of Gazans faced starvation conditions and have depended on food aid.
The organisation said it has brought in 60 per cent of the food to have reached Gaza since the start of the war on October 7, 2023. But it has long clashed with Israeli officials, who have repeatedly accused it of undermining the country’s security.
“The legislation concerning UNRWA activities in Israel will officially come into force in 48 hours on January 30… UNRWA must cease its operations and evacuate all premises it operates in Jerusalem,” the Israeli envoy, Danny Danon, told the UN Security Council.
“The legislation forbids UNWRA from operating within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel, and forbids any contact between Israeli officials and UNWRA.
“Israel remains committed to its commitments under international law.”
Israeli orders for UNRWA to leave its offices in East Jerusalem prompted a strongly worded response from UN chief Antonio Guterres who demanded Israel “retract it.”
His intervention sets up a possible showdown between authorities and UNRWA staff when the deadline expires today.
Israel claims that a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, and insists that other organisations can pick up the slack to provide essential services, aid and reconstruction – something the UN disputes. A series of probes, including one led by France’s former foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some “neutrality related issues” at UNRWA – but stressed Israel had not provided evidence for its chief allegations.
