Israel Bans UNRWA From Operating In Its Territory, Lazzarini: Exacerbating The Suffering Of The Palestinian People

JAKARTA - Head of the UN aid agency for Palestine (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini is concerned about the Israeli Parliament's decision to pass a law banning its organization from operating in the country's territory on Monday, creating dangerous precedents and contrary to UN Charter principles.

The Israeli parliament highlighted the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the October 7 attack by Palestinian militant groups into southern Israeli territory on October 7, with staff members of the Palestinian armed militant group.

"This is the latest in an ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegate its role in providing human development assistance and services to Palestinian refugees," Lazzarini wrote in an upload on X.

He further said that the legislation, which will take effect within the next 90 days, will only exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, where people have suffered "more than a year of very heavy suffering".

"This RUU increases the suffering of the Palestinian people and is nothing more than a collective punishment," he said.

Citing The Jerusalem Post, the bill received 92-10 votes, in which opposition parties such as National Unity, YiIsrael Beytenu and Yesh Atid provided support, while the Democratic Party voted abstained.

The law has made the United Nations and some of Israel's Western allies fear it will further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has been battling Hamas militants for a year.

However, the ban does not refer to operations in Palestinian territory or elsewhere.

"UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable. Because avoiding a humanitarian crisis is also important, continued humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza now and in the future," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on social media after the vote.

It is known that almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip relies on humanitarian assistance, with UNRWA as a "backbone" of UN aid efforts in the war-torn enclave.

In addition to helping send food and other basic necessities that save lives, UNRWA is also important to oversee the ongoing polio vaccination program.

The importance of UNRWA has been reaffirmed by several countries as well as the leadership of the United Nations, including the Secretary-General, who has described the agency's historic and key humanitarian role as "irreplaceable".

According to Lazzarini, ending UNRWA and its services "will not revoke the status of Palestinian refugees".

"The status is protected by other UN General Assembly resolutions to a just and lasting solution found for the suffering of the Palestinian people," he said.

"Failure to reject these bills will weaken our joint multilateral mechanisms formed after the Second World War," he stressed.

UNRWA was founded by the General Assembly in December 1949 "to carry out assistance and direct work programs" for Palestinian refugees. UNRWA began operations on May 1, 1950.

Separately, in an upload on X acting head of the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, it stated "the full solidarity of its team with UNRWA, whose work is very important for millions of Palestinians."

Joyce MSuya added that the decision was "dangerous and outrageous. There is no alternative but UNRWA."

Before the law was passed, foreign ministers from France, Germany, Britain, Japan and South Korea, Canada and Australia issued statements expressing "deep concern."

"It is imperative that UNRWA and other UN organizations and agencies fully provide humanitarian assistance and assistance to those most need it, fulfilling their mandate effectively," the statement said.