Palestinian Refugees Protest Termination Of UNRWA Activities, Israel's Efforts To Eliminate Rights To Return To Their Land

Camp Refugees of the Palestinian Bank (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Knesset on Monday, October 28, passed a law banning the United Nations on Palestinian refugee affairs (UNRWA) from operating, which will ultimately impact the implementation of the agency's activities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.

The law will take effect in 90 days. Palestinians living in refugee camps consider the decision a "step towards revocation of their right to return."

Suheyb Rummane, a resident of the al-Amari refugee camp, told Anadolu that UNRWA's body is a symbol and witness to the right to return Palestinians.

"Israel's decision will end the Palestinian refugees' issue and their right to return," he said.

Rummane, 69, said Israel's decision was "unacceptable" and there must be an official stance at the international level, including Palestine, its people and Arab countries, to put pressure on Israel on the matter.

Tel Aviv's decision was detrimental to the lives of Palestinians in refugee camps, from education to treatment, he said.

The Palestinian people will not remain silent and will not accept this decision. We will voice our opinion loudly. The world also needs to be responsible."

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Umaytir, one of the refugees in the Qaland camp, East Jerusalem, described the decision as "dangerous."

"This decision will have a negative impact on all aspects of life in Palestinian refugee camps, including education and health," Umaytir said.

However, he added that, despite how important UNRWA is to them, they should not depend on that body for the rest of their lives.

"The solution to this problem is the formation of an independent state so that the Palestinian people do not need to rely on international institutions to live," said Umaytir.

"Israel continues its policy of hitting every aspect of Palestinian life, especially the refugee issue," he said.