Netanyahu orders immediate enforcement of UNRWA ban
The Israeli prime minister has issued a directive ordering the law banning the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) be “enforced immediately”.
In a post on X, Netanyahu’s office said, “There are no restrictions on the implementation of the Prime Minister’s directive.”
The Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, passed two bills targeting the agency in October last year, which were meant to come into effect at the end of last month. The laws were widely condemned, with the UN and aid groups warning of disastrous consequences, especially for recovery efforts in the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA chief pledges to fulfil mandate despite risks, hostile environment
Philippe Lazzarini says UNRWA is continuing to operate in Gaza after Israeli authorities expelled its international staff from Israel and the occupied West Bank following the enactment of laws banning the agency.
Lazzarini, speaking in Cairo on Monday, said that UNRWA “now faces significant operational challenges” but that the “courage and commitment of our Palestinian staff have allowed UNRWA schools and health clinics to remain open” in the occupied West Bank.
A core team of international staff remains in Gaza, but Israel no longer facilitates their entry and exit via the Karim Abu Salem crossing, he said.
“It is unclear to what extent our ability to operate will be further constrained by the prohibition on contact between UNRWA representatives and Israeli officials,” Lazzarini said.
“What is clear is that the agency will stay and deliver its mandate until it is prevented from doing so,” he added. “We will do this despite the considerable risks to our staff in an increasingly hostile operational environment.”
Israeli forces storm UNRWA schools, training centre in West Bank
After Netanyahu’s call to implement a Knesset ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Israeli forces have attacked several educational centres affiliated with it in the occupied West Bank.
In the Qalandiya refugee camp, Israeli forces and Jerusalem municipality personnel forcefully entered the Qalandiya Training Centre and ordered its immediate evacuation while 350 students and 30 staff were present. Tear gas and sound bombs were used against the civilians.
In occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers and authorities stormed the UNRWA Jerusalem Elementary Boys School in the Wadi al-Joz neighbourhood this morning, expelled students from their desks, and forced the staff to close the school.
Another force from the Israeli intelligence service stormed an UNRWA school in the East Jerusalem town of Silwan and interrogated the principal before withdrawing from the scene. Another school was targeted in East Jerusalem’s Sur Baher neighbourhood, according to the Wafa news agency.
UNRWA confirmed that the schoolday continued as usual in Sur Baher and Silwan schools, while Wadi al-Joz school was evacuated to ensure students’ safety.
Israel violated ‘right to education’ by storming UNRWA-run schools in West Bank: Lazzarini
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini has confirmed that Israeli soldiers and municipality authorities stormed three schools and a training centre in the occupied West Bank and ordered immediate evacuations.
He said 250 children in three schools run by the UN agency in occupied East Jerusalem were affected, along with more than 350 trainees at the large training centre that was targeted in Qalandiya.
“This is a violation of the basic right to education as well as of United Nations privileges and immunities,” Lazzarini added in a post on X. “Children’s access to education must be preserved and United Nations facilities must be protected and respected at all times wherever they are.
