UNRWA instructed to vacate Jerusalem premises within 30 days: Report
The Israel Land Authority has instructed the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to vacate its headquarters in the Ma’alot Dafna area of occupied East Jerusalem within 30 days, the Times of Israel reports.
The eviction order follows a request from Israel’s Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf to remove UNRWA from any Israeli-controlled land it is occupying, as pressure from Israeli authorities mounts on the UN agency.
In a letter to UNRWA, the Israel Land Authority also claimed that the UN agency owes them 27,125,280 shekels (about $7.3m) for operating on Israeli land without permission for seven years.
Israel accused several UNRWA staff members of participating in the October 7 attacks in southern Israel – a claim it provided no solid evidence to support and which was dismissed by an independent review of the allegations.
The UNRWA headquarters in Jerusalem has suffered repeated attacks in recent months by Israelis, including arson and vandalism.
Israeli right-wing activists hold up banners during a demonstration demanding the immediate removal of the UNRWA headquarters in occupied Jerusalem on February 5
Over 50 UN experts demand sanctions, arms embargo on Israel
The group of experts issued the call for “decisive international action” after expressing outrage at the Israeli attack that killed at least 45 Palestinians sheltering in a makeshift tent camp in Rafah.
“Harrowing images of destruction, displacement and death have emerged from Rafah, including infants torn apart and people burnt alive,” the UN experts said.
“Reports emerging from the ground indicate that the strikes were indiscriminate and disproportionate, with people trapped inside burning plastic tents, leading to a horrific casualty toll.”
These “barbaric” attacks constitute a grave breach of the laws of war, the experts said, expressing deep frustration at the international community’s failure to stop Israel’s assault on Gaza.
The experts called for an independent probe into the attack on Rafah, as well as immediate sanctions and an arms embargo against Israel.
“The agony of Gaza’s people must end now,” they said.
UN experts outraged by #Israeli strikes on civilians sheltering in #Rafah camps, demand int’l investigation, sanctions & arms embargo.
"Calling the strikes a ‘mistake’ do not make them legal, bring back those killed or give comfort to grieving survivors”https://t.co/wmKfG0Tnzy pic.twitter.com/mS2RfS6zTS
— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) May 29, 2024
China’s Xi to call for ‘common voice’ on Gaza in meeting with Arab leaders
Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to address Arab leaders and diplomats at a forum in Beijing today, during which he will call for the adoption of a “common voice” on the conflict in Gaza.
The French news agency AFP reports that China is hosting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and several other Arab leaders for a forum in Beijing where Israel’s war on Gaza is expected to feature prominently.
Meeting el-Sisi on Wednesday, Xi said he was “deeply pained” by the “extremely severe” situation in Gaza. “The top priority task now is an immediate ceasefire, in order to avoid spillover of conflict, impact on regional peace and stability, and … to prevent a more serious humanitarian crisis,” he said.
China is ready to work with Egypt to “push for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue”, he added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during a signing ceremony with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on May 29
