Israel’s parliament passed a bill to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Gaza, accusing some UNRWA employees of involvement in terrorist activities. The ban comes after a U.N. investigation and warnings from the Biden administration that Israel may face restrictions on military aid if humanitarian assistance in Gaza is not increased.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the ban, calling it a violation of the U.N. charter and threatening a generation of children. International partners, including France, Germany, and the UK, expressed grave concern over the ban, while allies of Israel defended the legislation, saying UNRWA’s work in the region has been counterproductive.
UNRWA has been targeted by Netanyahu and his government for perpetuating what some Israelis see as a false narrative that Palestinians are refugees. Netanyahu has also accused the U.N. of being antisemitic and declared the U.N. Secretary-General “persona non grata.” IDF soldiers have been accused of attacking U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon.
The ban on UNRWA’s operations has stirred international controversy and concerns about the welfare of Palestinian refugees in the region. While some argue that UNRWA is essential for providing humanitarian aid, others believe the agency’s work is counterproductive to achieving stability and peace in the Middle East.
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