Israel Must Reverse Decision to Ban UNRWA Activities in the Palestinian Territories
Statement from Refugees International:
“Refugees International is deeply concerned about the recent votes in the Israeli Knesset to label the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) a terrorist actor, ban its activities within the Palestinian territories, and prevent any Israeli government engagement with UNRWA moving forward. These baseless moves threaten to severely undermine humanitarian operations in Gaza, where UNRWA provides the vast majority of day-to-day life-saving assistance to those in dire need.
UNRWA plays a crucial role in delivering emergency relief and health services to millions of Palestinians. Barring Israeli government officials from interacting with UNRWA further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis by severing necessary coordination between UNRWA and the Israel forces on the ground. This raises significant concerns about the safety of humanitarian staff and the continuity of vital humanitarian operations, in an environment where UNRWA personnel and assets have been routinely targeted.
This is also a critical moment of truth for the U.S. government. The Biden administration has urged Israel’s leaders in a private letter to take steps to improve aid access in Gaza or face potential consequences under U.S. domestic law. The administration has also publicly opposed this anti-UNRWA legislation. These new restrictions will devastate the humanitarian response and deny vital social services to tens of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. This runs diametrically contrary to U.S. law and stated U.S. policy, and as such should trigger consequences for U.S. arms support to Israel under President Biden’s National Security Memorandum 20 and Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act.
Refugees International calls on the Israeli government to urgently reverse this decision. We also call on the Biden administration to place the necessary conditions on military aid to Israel, as outlined under U.S. domestic law. It is imperative to ensure unhindered access for humanitarian aid and to protect the lives and well-being of civilians in Gaza.”
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Etant Dupain at edupain@refugeesinternational.org.