From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Israel says UNRWA in Gaza is ‘rotten,’ vows to ensure aid through other means
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Israel will use other United Nations and international agencies to ensure that aid reaches Gaza, says the Foreign Ministry after the Knesset passed bills curtailing UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
“Israel is committed to international law and to providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and will continue to act on this subject with UN agencies and international organizations such as the World Food Program, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and a number of other organizations, this while complying with its international obligations,” says the ministry.
The Foreign Ministry says Hamas “has infiltrated UNRWA in Gaza widely and deeply.”
“UNRWA employees were involved in the horrific 7 October massacre,” says the ministry. “Moreover, Israel handed over to the UN details about an additional 100 Hamas operatives who are employed by UNRWA, yet UNRWA has not taken any measures to handle the issue, and is not moving forward with any serious steps to deal with the terrorist operatives in its ranks.”
It says UNRWA has also not issued complaints or public statements about Hamas’s use of its facilities in Gaza.
“It is not just a few rotten apples, as UN Secretary General [Antonio] Guterres is trying to claim. UNRWA in Gaza is a rotten tree entirely infected with terrorist operatives,” says the ministry, calling on those who care about Israel and Gaza to replace UNRWA with other agencies.
The Times of Israel Community.