Israel Cuts Ties with UN Refugee Agency Amid Gaza Crisis
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Roshan Amiri
- . November 4, 2024
- . Update: November 4, 2024 3:06 pm
Israel officially stated that it is canceling its agreement with the main UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). This agreement has been in place since 1967.
Last month the Israeli parliament passed a law banning UNRWA from operating in Israel. It also stops Israeli authorities from working with the agency, which provides aid and education to millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel has criticized UNRWA for years accusing it of being biased and keeping Palestinians in permanent refugee status. Danny Danon the Ambassador to UN of Israel stated that despite showing the UN evidence of Hamas infiltration, the UN took no action.
Reuters reported, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement that despite the overwhelming evidence “we submitted to the U.N. highlighting how Hamas infiltrated UNRWA, the U.N. did nothing to address this reality”
The UN and Israel’s Western allies are worried about the new law. They think it will make the crisis in Gaza worse. Israel has been fighting Hamas in Gaza for a year. The law does not stop UNRWA from working in Palestinian areas. But it will make their work more difficult.
The Israeli foreign ministry said other international organizations will take on more roles, and plans are being made to cut ties with UNRWA and find alternatives.
The Israeli foreign ministry said activity by other international organizations would be expanded and “preparations will be made to end the connection with UNRWA and to boost alternatives to UNRWA”
