Israeli lawmakers have passed two laws that could threaten the work of the main UN agency providing aid to the people of Gaza by banning it from operating on Israeli soil.
These laws, which do not come into force immediately, mark a new setback in the long-difficult relations between Israel and the United Nations.
Israel’s international allies have expressed serious concern about the potential impact of these laws on the Palestinians, as the humanitarian toll of the war continues to rise.
Under the first law, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWAwould be prohibited from carrying out “any activity” or providing any service inside Israel, while the second law would sever diplomatic ties with it. The legislation risks derailing the already fragile process of distributing aid to Gaza, at a time when Israel is under a increased pressure from the United States to increase aid.
UNRWA was quick to react, noting that the Knesset vote goes against the United Nations Charter and violates the Jewish state’s obligations under international law.
Accusations of complicity with Hamas
Israel said that some of the thousands of UNRWA personnel participated in Hamas attacks last year, which sparked the war in Gaza. He also said that hundreds of UNRWA employees had links to militants and that he had found Hamas military equipment near or under the agency’s facilities.
The agency fired nine employees following an investigation, but it denies knowingly aiding armed groups and says it is moving quickly to purge its ranks of any suspected militants. Some of Israel’s allegationsprompted major international donors to cut off funding to the agencyalthough part of it was restored.
“The law we have just adopted is not just a bill. This is a call for justice and a wake-up call,” said Rep. Boaz Bismuth, who co-sponsored one of the bills. “ UNRWA is not a refugee agency. It’s an aid agency for Hamas “.
The first vote was adopted by 92 votes to 10, following a heated debate between supporters of the law and its opponents, most of them members of Arab parliamentary parties. The second law was approved by 87 votes to 9.
Yuli Edelstein, a lawmaker who chaired committee discussions on the bills, said during debate that the laws were not meant to affect what he said was Israel’s commitment to ensuring delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. But it was unclear what would happen once these laws came into force.
Relations between Israel and the UN threatened, as well as aid to millions of Palestinians
Together, these laws would have the effect of sever ties with the UN agency, strip it of its legal immunities and restrict its ability to support Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The legislation does not provide for alternative organizations to supervise its work.
These changes would also a serious blow to the agency and to the Palestinians in Gaza. More than 1.9 million Palestinians are displaced from their homes and Gaza faces widespread shortages of food, water and medicine.
International aid groups and a handful of Israel’s Western allies, including the United States, have voiced strong opposition.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, speaking to reporters in Washington, said that the US administration was ‘deeply concerned’ about the legislation. “No one can replace them right now, in the middle of the crisis,” he said.
UNRWA provides education, health and other basic services to millions of Palestinian refugees throughout the region, including in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The laws would take effect 60 to 90 days after Israel’s Foreign Ministry notifies the United Nations, according to lawmaker spokesman Dan Illouz, a co-sponsor of one of the laws.
ADVERTISEMENT“It’s a disaster,” said Juliette Toumacommunications director of the agency. “UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza… Who can do its job? Who can do their job? »
While the war is far from over, Gaza authorities announced Monday that the number of victims of the year-long fighting has exceeded 43,000. The Palestinian Ministry of Health does not make any distinction between civilians and combatants, but indicates that more than half of the dead are women and children.
The offensive in Gaza continues, coupled with strikes in Lebanon
The increase in the number of deaths comes asIsrael refocuses its offensive on the northern Gaza Striphard hit, and in particular on a hospital where, according to the army, militants were operating.
Israeli forces carried out a raid on Kamal Adwan hospital, in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity Monday in accordance with regulations, said heavy fighting took place around the hospital, but not inside, and that weapons were found inside. inside the establishment. The army said Monday that the raid had ended.
ADVERTISEMENTIsrael has carried out raids on several hospitals in Gaza during the war year, claiming that Hamas and other militants used them for military purposes. Palestinian medical officials deny the allegations and accuse the army of recklessly endangering civilians.
The Israeli army said it had arrested 100 suspected Hamas militants in latest raid. The Israeli official said the medical staff were stopped and searched because some of the activists had disguised themselves as doctors.
The World Health Organization accused Israel of arresting 44 male hospital staff. The reason for this discrepancy in figures was not immediately made clear. Palestinian medical officials said the hospital, which treated some 200 patients, was heavily damaged in the raid.
The Israeli army called on the Palestinians to evacuate the northern Gaza Stripwhere it has been leading a vast offensive for more than three weeks. The official said the operation in the northern Gaza town of Jabaliya would last “several more weeks.”
ADVERTISEMENTThe UN said earlier this month thatat least 400,000 people were in the northern Gaza Stripan area that was the first target of Israel’s war of retaliation. Hunger is endemic there, with the amount of humanitarian aid reaching the north having fallen over the past month.
The war between Israel and Hamas began after militants from Hamas and other groups stormed Israel, killing some 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and kidnapping 250 others. This war has shaken up the Middle East, triggering fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as between Israel and Iran, sworn enemies who have long kept their conflict in the shadows, but are now engaging in a open struggle.
At LebanonSuccessive Israeli airstrikes hit the southern port city of Tyre, following an evacuation order given by the Israeli army for parts of the city, the Israeli news agency reported on Monday. national press. No casualties were immediately reported.
Negotiations are stalling
After failing at the end of the summer, international mediators attempted to revive ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hamas. Israel said it would continue discussions on stopping the fighting after Mossad chief David Barnea returned from a meeting in Qatar with CIA chief David Burns and the Qatari prime minister.
ADVERTISEMENTThe mediators are trying various proposals to try to bring Israel and Hamas to an agreement. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi suggested a two-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of four hostages.
Israel seems sensitive to this idea. An Israeli official said Israel was discussing the proposal both internally and with Egyptian officials. A second official said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed enthusiasm for the proposal during a meeting with his Likud party on Monday.
The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations surrounding the proposal with the media.
Hamas has not yet officially responded to the plan and its officials could not be reached for comment Monday.
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