Lots of "hearts and prayers" for UNWRA.
It didn't come out of the blue though, the 2 bills were passed on Oct 6.
"Two bills passed on 6 October by the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defence committee will probably go to the Knesset plenum by 28 October"
Everyone saw it coming, but let it go on anyway.
‘Terrible decision’: UN ambassadors condemn Israel’s UNRWA ban
Wide condemnation from top to bottom without a doubt. This decision by Israel’s parliament actually came down as the UN Security Council was meeting about Israel’s strikes over the weekend on Iran.
Many of the ambassadors were getting the news about the parliamentary decision on their cell phones on WhatsApp messages. So, as they left that meeting, I asked several of them who would talk to us.
The Chinese ambassador to the UN said that it was a very bad decision. He condemned it and said Israel needs to rethink this.
The Russian ambassador to the UN as well. He said that this decision by the Israeli parliament makes things even more complicated, particularly in Gaza. He also said it was a terrible decision.
Barbara Woodward, the UK’s ambassador to the UN, actually made comments about it in the Security Council chamber.
Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain decry Israel’s UNRWA ban
The governments of the four European countries – all of which have recognised Palestinian statehood – issued a joint statement condemning the Knesset’s targeting of the agency.
“UNRWA has a mandate from the United Nations General Assembly,” the statement said. “The legislation approved by the Knesset sets a very serious precedent for the work of the United Nations and for all organizations of the multilateral system.”
The four countries said they would “continue to work with donor and host countries to ensure the viability of UNRWA’s work and its humanitarian role”.
Jordan says Israel’s UNRWA ban ‘illegal and invalid’
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “strongly condemned” the Israeli move, describing it as a “flagrant violation of international law and the obligations of Israel as the occupying power” in Palestine, according to the Petra news agency.
Sufyan Al-Qudah, a spokesman for the ministry, called for immediate action to protect the Palestinian people and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), warning that the Israeli campaign “aimed at assassinating UNRWA politically” would have “catastrophic consequences”.
He also said that “Israel’s attempts to target UNRWA and its symbolism, which emphasises the right of Palestinian refugees to return and compensation in accordance with international law, are doomed to failure”.
WHO chief says Israel’s UNRWA ban ‘intolerable’
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said UNRWA has been an “irreplaceable lifeline” for the Palestinian people for the past seven decades.
“UNRWA was created by the UN member states. Today’s decision by the Israeli parliament barring UNRWA from its life-saving and health-protecting work on behalf of millions of Palestinians will have devastating consequences,” he said in a post on X.
“This is intolerable. It contravenes Israel’s obligations and responsibilities, and threatens the lives and health of all those who depend on UNRWA.”
Australia ‘opposes’ Israel’s UNRWA ban
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said UNRWA does life-saving work and that her government opposes the Israeli Knesset’s decision to “severely restrict” the agency’s operations.
“Australia again calls on Israel to comply with the binding orders of the ICJ to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza,” she wrote on X.
UNRWA does life-saving work.
Australia opposes the Israeli Knesset’s decision to severely restrict UNRWA’s work.
On Sunday, Australia joined Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the UK to urge Israel's Knesset not to proceed with this legislation.
UN chief slams Israel’s ‘unacceptable’ ban on UNRWA
Antonio Guterres said he was deeply concerned by the Israeli legislation banning UNRWA, adding that the implementation of these laws would be “detrimental” to the resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
“There is no alternative to UNRWA,” the UN chief said in a statement.
“The implementation of the laws could have devastating consequences for Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is unacceptable,” he continued.
“I call on Israel to act consistently with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and its other obligations under international law, including under international humanitarian law and those concerning privileges and immunities of the United Nations. National legislation cannot alter those obligations.”
Switzerland ‘concerned’ by humanitarian implications of UNRWA ban
The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the Israeli parliament has passed two laws banning cooperation with UNRWA and limiting the agency’s presence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
In a post on X, it said it is “concerned about the humanitarian, political and legal implications of these decisions”.
Belgium says UNRWA is ‘crucial to regional stability’
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib urged Israeli authorities to let UNRWA carry out its UN General Assembly-ordered mandate across the Middle East. Lahbib said the agency provided “life-saving services in Gaza, the West Bank – including East Jerusalem – and across Lebanon, Syria and Jordan”.
“UNRWA is crucial to regional stability,” she wrote on X.
Belgium urges Israeli authorities to allow @UNRWA to continue its vital work under its @UN mandate, providing life-saving services in Gaza, the West Bank—including East Jerusalem—and across Lebanon, Syria & Jordan. #UNRWA is crucial to regional stability. https://t.co/zvFTGJ7pbk
— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) October 28, 2024
UK’s Keir Starmer ‘gravely concerned’ by Israel’s UNRWA ban
The British prime minister said the Israeli legislation “risks making UNRWA‘s essential work for Palestinians impossible” and jeopardises the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza as well as the delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank.
“Under its international obligations, Israel must ensure sufficient aid reaches civilians in Gaza,” he said in a statement. “Only UNRWA can deliver humanitarian aid at the scale and pace needed. We pay tribute to the 222 UNRWA staff who have lost their lives in the conflict. UNRWA has a UN mandate to support Palestinian refugees. We urge Israeli lawmakers to ensure that UNRWA can continue to deliver its essential work.”
Turkey says UNRWA ban in violation of international law
Israel’s decision to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees is a clear violation of international law by preventing Palestinians from returning to their homes, Turkey says.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the move aimed to disrupt efforts to reach a two-state solution, adding that the UNRWA provided crucial support to Palestinians.
“It is the legal and moral obligation of the international community to take a strong stance against attempts to ban UNRWA, which was established by a UN General Assembly resolution,” the ministry said.
“As the Chair of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA, Türkiye will continue to provide political and financial support to the Agency.”
France ‘strongly regrets’ Israeli ban on UNRWA
France’s Foreign Ministry says it “very strongly regrets” Israel’s ban on UNRWA.
“Implementation of these laws would have very serious consequences for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is already catastrophic, but also all of the Palestinian territories,” a statement from the ministry read.
It added that France “reiterates its support for UNRWA and will continue to track the implementation of reforms necessary for its actions to be neutral”.
