From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
At Security Council meeting, UNRWA chief decries ‘disastrous’ impending Israeli ban on agency
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Implementation of a ban — due to come into effect on Thursday — on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and their descendants, UNRWA, in Israel would be disastrous and cripple the body’s work in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, its chief tells the Security Council.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, claims the ban would “heighten instability and deepen despair in the occupied Palestinian territory at a critical moment,” undermine the ceasefire in Gaza, and sabotage the enclave’s recovery and political transition.
“The relentless assault on UNRWA is harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory. It is eroding their trust in the international community, jeopardizing any prospect for peace and security,” he contends.
Israel is due to cease all contact with UNRWA and any other body acting on its behalf, accusing the organization of undermining its security and being infiltrated by Hamas and other terror groups.
Israel says members took part in the October 7, 2023, onslaught, and for years has accused the agency of taking a part in radicalizing Palestinians against Israel and perpetuating the conflict by automatically bestowing refugee status on descendants of refugees, unlike the situation with the rest of the world’s refugees.
“The legislation forbids UNRWA from operating within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel, and forbids any contact between Israeli officials and UNWRA,” Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon says ahead of the Security Council meeting on Israel’s passage of the legislation.
“Israel will terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf.”
The Times of Israel Community.