Protest as Israel bans main UN Palestinian aid agency

JERUSALEM: Israel’s parliament on Monday (October 28) passed a bill banning main aid agency of the United Nations for the war-torn Gaza Strip, sparking international protests.

Despite objections from the United States and warnings from the UN Security Council, Israeli lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the bill banning the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from working in Israel and the Occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel strictly controls all humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza and lawmakers also approved a measure prohibiting Israeli officials from working with UNRWA and its employees.

UNRWA has provided essential aid, education, healthcare and assistance throughout the Palestinian territories and to Palestinian refugees elsewhere for more than seven decades.

“There is a deep connection between the terrorist organization (Hamas) and UNRWA and Israel cannot tolerate it,” Yuli Edelstein, one of the lawmakers who sponsored the bill, said in parliament as he introduced the proposal.

Palestinian militant group Hamas, locked in conflict with Israel in Gaza, called the bill an act of “Zionist aggression” toward Palestinians, while its ally Islamic Jihad described the ban as “an escalation of genocide.”

Even several of Israel’s staunch Western allies expressed concern about the ban, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying Britain was “gravely concerned”.

Germany – which has made Israel’s security one of its raisons d’état – warned that it would “effectively make UNRWA’s work in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem impossible… endangering vital humanitarian aid for millions of people.” .

UN chief Antonio Guterres said the Israeli law could have “devastating consequences” if implemented and would “likely prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work.”

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned that the vote “sets a dangerous precedent.”