Sana'a - Saba: Abdulaziz Al-Hazi
Despite international and UN warnings about the risks associated with the Zionist legislation concerning UNRWA, which contravenes international and UN statutes and regulations, the Zionist Knesset has resolved to ban the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the occupied territories of 1948.
The law in question seeks to "prohibit all activities of UNRWA in the occupied Palestinian territories," mandating that "UNRWA is not to establish any offices, deliver any services, or conduct any form of activity, whether directly or indirectly, within the occupied territories."
In this context, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the ban by the Zionist entity on the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) would have devastating consequences for Palestinian refugees.
The UN Secretary-General wrote on the platform "X": "If the laws passed by the Zionist Knesset are implemented, it is likely to prevent UNRWA from continuing its core work in the occupied Palestinian territories, which will have devastating consequences for Palestinian refugees, and this is unacceptable."
He called on the entity of the Zionist enemy to act according to its commitments under the United Nations Charter and international law, stating that national legislation cannot change these obligations.
He added, "I will present this issue to the United Nations General Assembly, and I will keep the Assembly continuously informed of the developments in the situation," emphasizing that "there is no alternative to UNRWA."
In his comments on the ban on the agency's activities, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said on Monday that the decision issued by the Zionist Knesset to ban our activities is "unprecedented, sets a dangerous precedent, and contradicts the United Nations Charter."
Lazzarini stated in a statement posted on his account on the X platform that it is "the latest decision in the ongoing campaign to tarnish our reputation and delegitimize our role in providing human development assistance and services to Palestinian refugees."
He considered the ban on the agency's services as a form of "collective punishment" because it is a decision that will lead to "deepening the suffering of Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip, where people have been living for more than a year in hell."
Lazzarini emphasized that "the ban on UNRWA services will not deprive Palestinians of their status as refugees, as this status is protected by a resolution from the UN General Assembly until a just and lasting solution to their plight is reached."
He described the decision as "unprecedented, setting a dangerous precedent, opposing the UN Charter, and violating Israel's obligations under international law."
He pointed out that "the decision of the Zionist Knesset will deprive more than 650,000 girls and boys of education, putting an entire generation of children at risk."
Lazzarini stated that "the failure to reject these laws would weaken our multilateral mechanism established after World War II, and this should be a concern for everyone."
For its part, the United States criticized the legislation passed by the Zionist Knesset that bans UNRWA activities, warning that it could lead to disaster for millions of Palestinians and calling for its implementation to be halted.
The two bills, which were passed by a large majority in the final vote, prevent UNRWA from operating in the occupied Palestinian territories and prohibit Israeli authorities from any contact with the agency.
The legislation will lead to the closure of UNRWA operations in East Al-Quds, where it provides education, health, and civil services to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. It will also severely limit UNRWA's activities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as the agency relies on coordination with the Zionist entity to deliver humanitarian aid and other services.
For his part, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller warned that the Knesset's approval of the bill "could have implications under U.S. law" that prohibits the transfer of offensive weapons to countries that obstruct the provision of humanitarian aid.
Miller noted during a press conference that preventing the main agency responsible for providing aid from carrying out its work could lead to restrictions on U.S. military support for Israel, emphasizing that "UNRWA currently plays an irreplaceable role in Gaza, where it is at the forefront of delivering humanitarian aid to those in need. There is no other entity that can replace it in this crisis."
He added, "If UNRWA were to disappear, you would find that civilians, including children and infants, would be unable to access the food, water, and medicine necessary for survival. We see that as unacceptable."
He continued, saying: "We continue to urge the 'Israeli' government to halt the implementation of this legislation... We urge them not to pass it at all, and we will consider the next steps based on what happens in the coming days."
For its part, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation stated in a statement today, Tuesday, that the decision of the Zionist Knesset to ban the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Al-Quds is part of the occupation's attempt to eliminate the refugee issue and the right of return.
It added that this decision is a blatant violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and its relevant resolutions.
The organization warned of the repercussions of the decision on UNRWA's role in providing essential services to refugees, emphasizing that the continued targeting of the agency and its staff by the occupation, as well as thousands of displaced persons in its schools, will not change its legal status, which enjoys an international mandate based on the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.
It called on the international community, especially the United Nations Security Council, to assume its responsibilities in protecting UNRWA and its vital role in providing essential services to millions of refugees and ensuring their rights.
In UNRWA's first response, the agency's advisor, Adnan Abu Hasna, said that the decision by (Israel) to ban the agency's work poses a grave danger to humanitarian activities in the region and will lead to widespread political repercussions.
He added: "UNRWA" is the lifeline for the people of Gaza, and banning its activities practically means the collapse of humanitarian relief efforts there.
He noted that targeting "UNRWA" has become part of the Zionist objectives in the war, threatening the stability of humanitarian conditions and obstructing international efforts to support civilians in Gaza.
The Zionist entity and its supporters in Western countries are facing widespread criticism worldwide regarding the war on the Gaza Strip and the extremist fascist policies of Netanyahu's government in Gaza, which amount to genocide and "serious violations of international law."
The vote by the "Zionist Knesset" against the work of "UNRWA" in the occupied Palestinian territories was met with widespread Palestinian, Arab, and international condemnations, emphasizing that these laws aim to delegitimize the agency's role in providing assistance and developmental and humanitarian services to Palestinian refugees.
In Palestine, the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" rejected the Knesset's vote on the Zionist enemy, on a draft law to ban the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The movement considered in a statement on Monday evening that this is "part of the Zionists' war and aggression against the Palestinian people, aimed at liquidating the Palestinian national cause and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes."
"Hamas" called on the international community and the United Nations to take firm positions against the usurping Zionist entity and to provide support to UNRWA, ensuring the continuation of its work in aiding the Palestinian people.
For his part, the official spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, rejected the Zionist legislation concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), affirming that it violates international law and constitutes a challenge to United Nations resolutions representing international legitimacy.
Abu Rudeineh explained in a statement reported by the Palestinian news agency "Wafa" that the decision aims to liquidate the refugees' issue and their right to return and compensation, and this "we will not allow." He emphasized that the decision "is not only against the refugees but also against the United Nations and the world that decided to establish UNRWA."
He called on the international community to take practical positions against this dangerous Zionist legislation that impacts international law, affirming that the Palestinian people and their leadership will not allow the implementation of the occupation's plans, which will fail to liquidate the issue of Palestinian refugees.
Currently, the northern Gaza Strip, specifically Jabalia and Beit Lahia, is experiencing a war of extermination, siege, destruction, and the threat of famine and forced displacement for 25 days. During this time, the Zionist entity is preventing the entry of food, water, fuel, and medicine, resulting in the martyrdom of more than a thousand martyrs, thousands of wounded, and dozens of missing persons.
The forces of the Zionist enemy continue their aggression against the Gaza Strip, on land, at sea, and in the air, since October 7, 2023, resulting in the martyrdom of 43,020 Palestinian citizens and the injury of 101,110 others, the majority of whom are children and women, in a preliminary count, as thousands remain missing under the rubble.
E.M
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