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Israeli Laws Impacting UN Aid to Gaza
Context:
Israeli lawmakers approved two new laws that could hinder the work of the main United Nations agency aiding people in Gaza. The legislation restricts the agency from operating on Israeli soil, cutting ties with it and labelling it a terror organisation.
More on News:
- Though the laws don’t take immediate effect, they signal a worsening relationship between Israel and the UN.
- International allies have voiced concerns about the impact these laws may have on Palestinians, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies.
- The first law prohibits the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from any activity or services within Israel, while the second law cuts all diplomatic ties with the agency.
The General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 to provide relief for Palestinians displaced before and during the 1948 war following Israel’s creation, including their descendants.
Indian Aid for Palestine:
- India is among the countries supporting Palestine through UNRWA.
- Earlier this month, India sent 30 tons of crucial supplies, including medicines, surgical items, dental supplies, general medical necessities, and high-energy biscuits, to be distributed by UNRWA to Palestinian refugees.
Pressure on Israel to Maintain Gaza Aid:
- The legislation risks disrupting aid distribution in Gaza at a time when Israel is under increased pressure from the United States to facilitate humanitarian aid.
- Israel alleges that some UNRWA staff were involved in the October 2023 Hamas attacks that escalated the Gaza conflict, claiming that hundreds of staff members have links to militants and that Hamas military assets have been found near UNRWA facilities.
- Following an investigation, nine UNRWA employees were dismissed; however, the agency denies supporting armed groups and states it promptly removes suspected militants. Some donor countries temporarily cut funding to UNRWA due to these allegations, though some of that funding has been restored.
United Nations’ Response
- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned that implementing these laws could severely impact the UN agency’s ability to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank, warning of “devastating consequences” for refugees and calling this “unacceptable.”
Guterres stressed UNRWA’s unique mandate and significance, emphasising, “There is no alternative to UNRWA.”
