Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
DPRK strongly condemnded the US strikes on Iran
Iran: Fars News Agency: A woman and her 6-year-old son were killed in an Israeli drone attack on Kermanshah Province
Iran: IRNA: Attack Wave 21 was not carried out, and the operation carried out minutes ago was from Yemen against targets in the occupied territories
Sirens are sounding in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas
Israeli military command: We identified missiles launched from Iran
Tunis: The legitimacy created by World War II is crumbling and the future belongs to free peoples of the world
Tunis: We emphasize that the aggression against Iran should not obscure other ongoing crimes, the first of which is the war of extermination against the Palestinian people
Tunis: International legitimacy does not permit or justify aggression against Iran under any cover or title
Tunisia: Foreign Ministry: We call for an end to the aggression against our sister country, Iran, and we do not limit ourselves to condemning the Zionist and American attacks
Iran: Nur News: An Israeli aerial assault is targeting the region of Parchin, east Tehran

Global outcry over Israeli plan to label UNRWA as 'terror group'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 3 Jun 2024 15:23
4 Min Read

Qatar and Saudi Arabia have recently condemned an Israeli parliamentary bill seeking to classify UNRWA, the primary aid provider for Palestinians in Gaza, as a "terror group".

Listen
  • x
  • UNRWA Team providing vital psychosocial & educational activities for children in Gaza amid Israeli genocide (UNRWA)
    UNRWA team providing vital psychosocial & educational activities for children in Gaza amid Israeli genocide (UNRWA)

Qatar and Saudi Arabia have lately condemned an Israeli parliamentary bill that aims to designate UNRWA, the primary aid provider for Palestinians in Gaza, as a "terror group". This condemnation adds to the growing international opposition to the proposal.

The bill, which passed a preliminary vote in parliament last week, follows weeks of a nonstop Israeli campaign against UNRWA, claiming that some of its staffers had ties with the Palestinian Resistance movement and participated in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7 last year.

Meanwhile, Phillipe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, has reiterated that "Israel" provided no evidence against the accused agency employees, pointing out that it was "a deliberate and concerted campaign" to end the agency and its work.

The allegations resulted in many donors freezing funding to the agency, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid the ongoing genocide, with many of them later reinstating the funds as "Israel" provided no evidence supporting its claims. UNRWA asserted that it promptly addressed the accusations and an independent review of the agency's neutrality found that "Israel" had not previously raised concerns about the workers and had not provided evidence to support its claims.

The bill currently advancing through parliament aims to designate the agency as a "terror group". Additionally, the bill proposes severing diplomatic relations between "Israel" and the agency.

Israeli bill targeting UNRWA sparks international concern

The bill passed the initial vote with a margin of 42-6 and is slated to undergo review by committees and three additional votes before potentially becoming law.

Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s director of communications, characterized the bill as part of Israeli ongoing "systematic campaign" to dismantle the agency, expressing concerns about its potential impact on the safety of UNRWA staff. She cautioned that the bill poses significant risks to their lives.

Related News

UN says 2024 deadliest year as war on Gaza kills 168 staffers

'Israel' striking UNRWA schools in 'deliberate strategy': The Guardian

On his part, MSF Secretary-General Chris Lockyear slammed the bill as "an outrageous attack on humanitarian assistance and an act of collective punishment against the Palestinian people."

He strongly condemned the proposed designation and expressed solidarity with UNRWA, which he said serves "as a lifeline, providing essential relief to millions of Palestinians and acting as the backbone of aid delivery to the people in Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the region."

UNRWA operates in al-Quds, the occupied West Bank, and Gaza, requiring passage through Israeli crossings to deliver aid and supplies into Gaza.

In response to the bill, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry stated that the attempt to label UNRWA a "terrorist organization" is an extension of the systematic campaign aimed at dismantling the agency. They emphasized the crucial need for UNRWA's humanitarian services, especially amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

🛑 Time for the world to listen to the children of #Gaza

"I have been in the same clothes since the war started."

"Our streets are destroyed & full of garbage."

"I want to go back to my school and friends."

"I am sick of this life."

Their only hope is an immediate #Ceasfire pic.twitter.com/w3AFsxucUG

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 28, 2024

Saudi Arabia also criticized the action, asserting that UNRWA employees are fulfilling their obligation to mitigate the severity of the humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people.

“The kingdom stresses that Israel, as an occupying state, must abide by international law and international humanitarian law and stop obstructing the work of international organizations,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.

On Friday, the European Union, along with its member states, the largest donors to UNRWA, joined in condemning the action. They emphasized the "crucial and irreplaceable" role of UNRWA in tackling the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Additionally, Belgium, a member of the EU, issued its own condemnations.

UNRWA employs thousands of personnel and plays a pivotal role in providing essential aid and services to millions of individuals throughout the Middle East. In Gaza, it serves as the primary source of food, water, and shelter for civilians.

Read next: 3,500 Gaza children at risk of death amid Israeli starvation tactics

  • UNRWA
  • war on Gaza
  • Terrorist List
  • Palestine
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • Gaza
  • Israeli accusations
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Qatar
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, speaks with then-Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 (AP)
Politics

Iran holds the initiative after nuclear strikes, Shamkhani says

Blood stains a religious painting inside Mar Elias Church, where a suicide bomber detonated himself in al-Dwela, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN, regional governments condemn Damascus church bombing

A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after returning from a massive strike on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday (AP)
Politics

Israeli media: US-Israeli strike on Iran failed to end war

China UN Ambassador Fu Cong addresses the United Nations Security Council, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Politics

China slam US strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS