The European Union has condemned the Israeli occupation government’s ban on the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Palestinian Wafa news site reported.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas said the Israeli legislation raises concerns due to its comprehensive consequences for UNRWA operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
The statement indicated that the EU condemns any attempts “to abrogate the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA or to otherwise attempt to obstruct UNRWA’s capacity to operate its mandate.”
“The EU stresses the role of the UN and its agencies, notably UNRWA, which provides crucial support to the civilian population in Gaza, the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, and across the region, including Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. The essential service delivery to Palestine refugees is even more relevant now when there is a need for swift implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement.”
It also stressed the bloc’s determination to continue supporting UNRWA to enable it to perform its mandate.
![Israel bans UNRWA's operations - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_9461.jpg?resize=500%2C310&ssl=1)
Israel bans UNRWA’s operations – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]
On 28 October, the Israeli Knesset approved, by a large majority, two laws that prohibit UNRWA from carrying out any activities inside Israel, withdraw its privileges and facilities and prevent any official contact with it.
The Israeli government’s decision to ban UNRWA’s work in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem went into effect on Thursday.
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.
READ: UNRWA describes situation in occupied West Bank as ‘shocking’