Palestinian gov’t church group condemns Israel law banning UNRWA

The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine condemned a recent law passed by the Israeli Knesset that prohibits the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), declaring it a “terrorist organisation”.

In a message on its official account on Facebook, the committee urged churches around the world to “act against Israel’s ban on UNRWA,” citing the catastrophic impact this decision will have on refugee rights.

The Committee emphasised that this law represents a direct threat to the right of return for Palestinian refugees and constitutes a violation of the UN Charter. It asserted that the enactment of such legislation sets a dangerous precedent, as no permanent member of the United Nations has previously prohibited the activities of a UN agency.

It called on churches and Christian institutions worldwide to take action against Israel’s restrictive laws, urging them to support the continuation of UNRWA’s essential work.

On Monday, during the opening of the winter session, the Knesset plenum approved in its final reading, a law banning the activity of the UNRWA inside Israel.

Israeli lawmakers also voted to declare UNRWA a terror group, effectively banning any direct interaction between the UN agency and the Israeli state.

There has been international condemnation following the decision, with warnings that the situation in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip will deteriorate quickly if UNRWA is not able to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians there.

Israel has long lobbied to have UNRWA closed as it is the only UN agency to have a specific mandate to look after the basic needs of Palestinian refugees. If the agency no longer exists, argues Israel, then the refugee issue must no longer exist, and the legitimate right for Palestinian refugees to return to their land will be unnecessary. Israel has denied that right of return since the late 1940s, even though its own membership of the UN was made conditional upon Palestinian refugees being allowed to return to their homes and land.

Read: African Union chief calls on UN to take ‘decisive action’ over Israel ban on UNRWA