Global outcry over Israeli plan to label UNRWA as 'terror group'
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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".
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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.
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
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 28, 2024
"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
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.
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