European Parliament: Right-wing groups block session on Israel's ban on UNRWA

Right-wing groups in the European Parliament blocked a debate on Israel’s recent decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The blocked debate was set to take place in a plenary session scheduled for 13-14 November in Brussels.

The proposal to debate Israel’s ban of UNRWA was rejected by 353 votes against and 201 votes in favour.

“The decision of Israel to ban the UN agency is a disservice to peace, multilateralism, and once again violates international law.This undermines vital UN operations & weakens multilateral efforts for peace, sidelining human rights & emboldening unilateral aggression on Gaza,” the Left group tweeted on its official X account, which is named “The Left in the European Parliament.”

There is no alternative to UNRWA.

The decision of Israel to ban the UN agency is a disservice to peace, multilateralism, and once again violates international law.

Now more than ever it is key to continue talking about Palestine.

Unfortunately they don’t think so 👇 pic.twitter.com/2OvdJx0Qyv

— The Left in the European Parliament (@Left_EU) November 13, 2024

Right-wing groups voting against the debate, the left in the European Parliament said,

“undermines vital UN operations & weakens multilateral efforts for peace, sidelining human rights & emboldening unilateral aggression on Gaza.”

📢 Today, right-wing forces in @Europarl_EN blocked our proposal to debate on Knesset decisions targeting UNRWA’s work in Gaza.

This undermines vital UN operations & weakens multilateral efforts for peace, sidelining human rights & emboldening unilateral aggression on #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/de0Jp2EnMR

— The Left in the European Parliament (@Left_EU) November 13, 2024

On 28 October, the Israeli Knesset officially passed legislation banning UNRWA’s activities in Israel and labelled it a “terrorist” organisation.

Israel has lobbied hard 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.

OPINION: ‘We will die from hunger’: Gazans decry Israel’s UNRWA ban