Israel has introduced a law banning the United Nations agency UNRWA.
Israel’s Parliament has banned the United Nations agency, United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). By passing the bill against it by 92 votes in favor and 10 against, Parliament approved the law against the agency. According to this, within three months UNRWA will have to cease its work in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and other areas under Israeli occupation. Let us know what UNRWA’s work is and why Israel banned it.
UNRWA was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to protect and assist displaced Palestinians. It began operations on May 1, 1950 and has helped many generations of refugees since then. Some of them still live in refugee camps.
Previously, UNRWA used to help only people fleeing Palestine and living as refugees in other countries. Then, in 1967, an agreement was reached between Israel and the United Nations. Under this, UNRWA also gained approval to help Palestinian refugees living in the Israeli-occupied area. However, this treaty was canceled after a new law was passed in the Israeli Parliament.
Work for the well-being of refugees
Currently, this agency helps people living in refugee camps in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem and other surrounding countries, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. It is the main humanitarian organization operating in Gaza and the West Bank. In addition to providing emergency aid and assistance, it also provides necessary assistance for survival. Provides first aid and mental health services. Their services also include education. It has established many schools, in which more than five lakh children were studying before the October 7, 2023 attack.
Image after Israel’s attack on Gaza.
I have helped so many people so far.
UNRWA also tries to provide employment to the people of Palestine. To this end, it also provides a small financial aid to Palestinians who want income to find employment. According to one estimate, it has helped about 6 million Palestinians since its creation.
According to the UNRWA website, 5.45 lakh children were registered in its schools in 2021. As many as 3.98 lakh people were assisted through social protection programs and 1.7 million people received life-saving humanitarian assistance.
The Israeli Parliament passed two laws
Israel’s Parliament passed two laws on Monday, despite all international pressure. Through this bill, it has been provided that any type of contact by any Israeli official with UNRWA will be illegal. The second law prohibits UNRWA from carrying out any type of activity within Israel’s borders. According to this, this law will come into force in the next three months. With its implementation, it will also be impossible for the agency to obtain permission to enter the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Apart from this, the agency will not be able to deliver any aid to Palestine through Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
These are Israel’s accusations
Israel has alleged that UNRWA employees have supported Hamas and are working with it. Israel also claims that 19 of its employees were involved in the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. It has also been argued that evidence has been found that hundreds of UNRWA employees are associated with Hamas. After this, countries such as the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland stopped funding UNRWA.
However, after all these accusations by Israel, the United Nations conducted an investigation and in August this year, nine UNRWA employees were also fired from their jobs. UNRWA also denied knowingly helping Hamas. After this, many countries started funding it again.
I don’t listen to anyone
Israel has completely rejected the international community’s call not to impose sanctions on UNRWA. Many countries had already asked Israel not to do this. The United States is also included in these. The United States has expressed concern about the new move by Israel, which even before the vote had called on Israel not to pass the sanctions law. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also said he is concerned about Israel’s new move. Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Japan and South Korea have also condemned this measure taken by Israel. This will affect the funding received by this agency and may face difficulties in aid work.
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