Foreign Minister Of 7 Countries Asks Israel To Stop Laws That Prevent UNRWA From Working For Gaza

JAKARTA - Foreign ministers from seven countries have asked Israel to stop a law that would prevent the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from working for Gaza.

The bill, which will be brought to Israeli parliament this week for a vote, will prohibit Israeli officials from providing services or dealing with UNRWA employees and prohibiting the agency from operating in Israel.

The agency has long been the target of Israeli criticism and relations between Israel and the United Nations have slumped amid the war in Gaza.

Canadian, Australian, French, German, Japanese, South Korean and British foreign ministers have expressed great concern over the law in a joint statement.

"UNRWA provides essential humanitarian assistance and basic services and save lives for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and throughout the region," he said.

Without this cooperation, the provision of aid and services, including education, health services, and fuel distribution in Gaza and the West Bank, will be severely hampered or even impossible, with very bad consequences for the critical and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, particularly in northern Gaza.

The ministers urged the Israeli government to comply with its international obligations and fulfill its responsibilities to facilitate humanitarian aid in full, fast, safe and without obstacles to civilians.

Previously, the Israeli government claimed several UNRWA staff were affiliated with Hamas. UNRWA strongly denied the allegations

Several countries suspended funding for the agency earlier this year while the allegations were investigated.