'Israel' legally bound to maintain UNRWA, violating UN Charter: Russia
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Russia’s ICJ representative Maksim Miskin accuses "Israel" of undermining UNRWA and violating international law, citing attacks on the agency amid ongoing aggression in Gaza and the West Bank.
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Israeli settlers protest against UNRWA in occupied al-Quds, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. (AP)
Russia’s representative to the International Court of Justice, Maksim Musikhin, asserted that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is not a charitable entity, but a body that "Israel" is legally obligated to preserve.
"Israel and some other states argued in their written submissions that the matter before the court is political in nature," he said.
Musikhin warned of a growing crisis in legitimacy and humanitarian responsibility due to what he described as a systematic effort by "Israel" to dismantle UNRWA. He emphasized that such actions also violate "Israel's" broader commitments under international law.
He further stated that "Israel’s" operations in October 2024 constituted a direct breach of the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
Highlighting the scope of the legal debate, Musikhin clarified that the case concerns the legal duties and responsibilities of "Israel" in safeguarding the privileges of UN agencies operating in the occupied Palestinian territories, warning that failing to hold "Israel" accountable would risk destabilizing the international legal framework itself.
A symbol of international responsibility
Recalling the historical roots of UNRWA, Musikhin noted that it was established by UN Resolution 302 in 1949 to support the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during the Nakba. Today, the agency serves 5.9 million Palestinian refugees across the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
“For 75 years, the agency has not just been an institution, but a symbol of the international community’s responsibility toward the Palestinian people,” he stated.
Musikhin explained that after "Israel" occupied Gaza and the West Bank in 1967, it assumed responsibility for the welfare of the local population. However, that obligation was effectively outsourced to UNRWA and other humanitarian bodies, which were then used to mitigate the consequences of "Israel’s" own policies.
He underscored that, as of 2024, the United Nations remains the central pillar of humanitarian response, and no other organization can replace its role in providing essential services to refugees and civilians.
Addressing recent developments, Musikhin condemned the impact of Israeli actions in Gaza, the full siege imposed since March 2, and the widespread destruction in the West Bank. He warned that "Israel" appears poised to repeat the catastrophic scenario seen in January, when UNRWA offices, including those in occupied East Al-Quds, were forcibly shut for the first time since 1950, effectively stripping the agency of its privileges and immunities.
'Israel' bans UNRWA
In October 2024, "Israel" passed a law prohibiting UNRWA from working in "Israel", further hindering its efforts to aid Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
The proposal has upset the United Nations and some of "Israel's" Western allies, who believe it would exacerbate the already grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, where "Israel" has ruthlessly and repeatedly bombed civilians for that year.
"Israel" has frequently demanded that UNRWA be dismantled and its responsibilities moved to other UN organizations. Israeli lawmaker Sharren Haskel boldly claimed that since the UN is unwilling to "clean this organization from terrorism," Israeli measures must be taken.
Another lawmaker, Boaz Bismuth, alleged that "if you really want stability, if you really want security, if you want real peace in the Middle East, organizations like UNRWA won't bring you there."
UNRWA defied the ban, which was also later imposed on the West Bank, and said it will continue its work in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East occupied al-Quds.
