US, UK officials warn UNRWA ban to cause 'catastrophe', 'suffering'
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British and American officials alike are warning that the upcoming ban on UNRWA would be devastating for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank who are in dire need for assistance.
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Palestinian youths demonstrate outside a UNRWA clinic at the Qalandia refugee camp to protest the Israeli parliament's decision preventing the agency from continuing its work, in the occupied West Bank, Nov. 2024 (AP)
US State Department officials have warned the Trump administration transition team of a potential humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza due to a new Israeli law barring contact with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), according to three US officials who spoke to Axios. The law is set to take effect at the end of the month, shortly after President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
After over a year of aggression and destruction, Gaza is left teetering on the edge of uninhabitability, with the UN and other aid organizations issuing grave warnings. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed, nearly two million Palestinians have been displaced, and the population remains heavily reliant on international aid for essential needs, such as food, water, and medical care.
State Department officials briefed Joel Rayburn, a key figure in the Trump transition team and a former US envoy to Syria, on the dire implications of the new Israeli law. Rayburn, expected to assume the role of Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, was informed of the significant risks posed by the restrictions on UNRWA's operations in Gaza.
"We wanted them to know what is going to happen 10 days into their presidency," one US official told Axios. "We thought it was the responsible thing to do. It's a catastrophe waiting to happen."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also expressed concern, writing to the UN General Assembly in December about the devastating impact of curtailing UNRWA activities in Gaza and the West Bank. “There is currently no realistic alternative to UNRWA which could adequately provide the services and assistance required,” Guterres emphasized.
The Israeli law, set to take effect within days of Trump's inauguration, adds to a growing list of global crises awaiting President-elect Trump and his team. With Gaza's humanitarian situation rapidly deteriorating, international observers are closely watching how the administration will navigate this pressing issue in the Middle East.
UNRWA ban to cause 'tremendous suffering'
The United Kingdom, meanwhile, expressed grave concern Tuesday over the Israeli occupation's decision to ban UNRWA, emphasizing that no organization can substitute its critical role.
Development Minister Anneliese Dodds told parliament that the legislation must not go into force, reaffirming the necessity of UNRWA's work. Her comments came in response to a question from the International Development Committee regarding her concerns over the impending ban, set to take effect in three weeks.
UNRWA issued an urgent warning last week, highlighting the potentially devastating impact on its ability to deliver vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and the eastern part of al-Quds. Dodds underscored the unique role of UNRWA, stating that no other organization can provide aid and services across the region as effectively.
Dodds stressed that the ban would cause "tremendous suffering" not only in Gaza but throughout the region, citing UNRWA's decades-long UN mandate to carry out its mission.
During discussions with the committee, Dodds revealed she had "very long conversations" with Israeli officials, where she clearly communicated her government's stance. When asked if the Israeli occupation was responsive, Dodds acknowledged the need for concrete changes, particularly regarding support for UNRWA and barriers to aid access.
Dodds reiterated the UK government's position, calling for a ceasefire, the release of captives, and a significant surge in promised aid to Gaza. Pressed about potential UK actions if UNRWA ceases operations, she indicated that the government had outlined the consequences of the Knesset vote but did not provide specific details.
UNRWA urges Knesset to reverse decision
Speaking in an interview for Ireland's RTE on Friday, UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma stressed the critical nature of the situation. "The clock is ticking for a possible ban on UNRWA to deliver essential services for millions of Palestine refugees," she said. Touma noted that this move would be "unprecedented" in UN history and called on the Knesset to reverse its decision immediately.
"It has never happened in the history of the United Nations that a member state decides to ban a UN agency, in the middle of a war, from doing its work," Touma pointed out, adding that the UN has no plans to replace the agency's role in the occupied territories.
The legislation passed by "Israel's" parliament mandates a complete withdrawal of UNRWA within 90 days, including the closure of its offices and freezing of its financial accounts in "Israel." The law also designates UNRWA as a terror group, nullifying a 1967 agreement that allowed the agency to assist Palestinian refugees in Israeli-occupied areas.
The proposed Knesset bills follow allegations by the occupation that some UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 operation. As a result, nine staff members have been dismissed, with no proof of the Israeli claims provided. If the agency is shut down, UNRWA's senior emergency officer Louise Wateridge warned, "UNRWA does something like 17,000 health consultations a day in the Gaza Strip. It's impossible for another agency to replace that."
