JERUSALEM (TDI): Amid criticism and objections from its allies, Parliament in Israel has approved a bill banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from working in occupied areas.
According to various news agencies and media reports, the bill banning UNRWA activities in Israel along with occupied east Jerusalem was passed with 92 votes in favour and 10 against it, attracting immediate objections from the United States and United Kingdom.
Soon after the ban UN officials also reacted and strongly condemned the move by Israel.
“It’s outrageous that a member state of the United Nations is working to dismantle a UN agency which also happens to be the largest responder in the humanitarian operation in Gaza,” said UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma.
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British Foreign Minister David Lammy also expressed disappointment over the Israeli bill. It’s a matter of profound regret that the Israeli parliament was considering shutting down UNRWA’s operations,“ Lammy told British MPs in parliament before the voting as media reported.
Without any evidence, Israel has blamed several staff members of UNRWA for taking part in the Hamas attack on the occupied territory last year.
“The allegations against UNRWA staff earlier this year were fully investigated, and offer no justification for cutting off ties with UNRWA,” Lammy was quoted by media saying as.
Lammy said that UNRWA provides healthcare, schooling and aid in both the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank and banning it would not be in Israel’s “interests.
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It was deeply concerned by Israeli legislation to ban the UN aid agency, which carries out an ‘irreplaceable role in delivering humanitarian assistance’ in Gaza Strip, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said earlier.
The US has already warned Israel over stopping humanitarian aid in the occupied areas.
