United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protest Israel’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), while Norway asked the International Court of Justice to clarify Israel’s duties towards the Palestinians with regard to aid.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, said: “The law, as we understand it, gives 90 days before it enters into force. We are in contact with the Israeli authorities. The Secretary-General sent a letter hours ago to the Israeli Prime Minister to emphasize his concern, and the issues raised by the law with regard to international law.” “, expressing his hope that the law that was approved by the Israeli Knesset yesterday, Monday, will not be implemented.
Despite international concern, Israeli representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of banning the agency’s activities in Israel and East Jerusalem.
For more than 7 decades, UNRWA has provided vital assistance to Palestine refugees. Israel accused about 10 UNRWA employees of involvement in the Al-Aqsa flood attack, an accusation for which it did not provide evidence, and the agency repeatedly denied it.
Request from International Justice
On the other hand, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Sture said – in a statement – that his country “asks the International Court of Justice to issue a clarification regarding Israel’s duties with regard to facilitating humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, delivered by international organizations, including the United Nations, and states.”
He indicated that Norway will submit a draft resolution to the United Nations General Assembly requesting the Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion in this regard.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said – in the same statement – that “the Israeli government’s policy makes it more difficult for Palestinians to access life-saving aid and basic services such as health care and education.”
He added that banning UNRWA would “carry severe consequences for millions of civilians living under the most dangerous conditions,” noting that the move also “undermines stability in the entire Middle East.”
He stressed that “Israel’s behavior contradicts international law and undermines efforts to establish a viable Palestinian state and the two-state solution.”
Norway angered Israel in May when it recognized – along with Ireland and Spain – the State of Palestine, and also increased its aid to UNRWA last June.
