Israel’s impending ban on the U.N. company crucial for supporting Palestinians “will undermine” the cease-fire deal within the Gaza Strip, the top of the company warned on Tuesday.
“UNRWA is the largest U.N. presence in Gaza, with 13,000 personnel and 300 premises. The agency is critical for supporting a shattered population and the cease-fire,” Philippe Lazzarini, head of U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) mentioned throughout a Security Council session on Palestine.
Noting that ending UNRWA’s assist operations throughout the occupied Palestinian territories would put the destiny “of millions at stake,” Lazzarini warned that it could additionally threat “the cease-fire and the prospects for a political solution that brings lasting peace and security.”
“Curtailing our operations now – outside a political process, and when trust in the international community is so low – will undermine the cease-fire,” he mentioned, and emphasised that “it will sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition.”
Lazzarini described full implementation of a UNRWA ban as “disastrous” for Gaza, and warned that “it will degrade the capacity of the United Nations, just when humanitarian assistance must be scaled up significantly.”
“This will only worsen the already catastrophic living conditions of millions of Palestinians,” he added.
Lazzarini additionally dismissed Israel’s claims of transferring UNRWA’s providers to different entities, and described the help company’s mandate as “unique.”
Stressing that the present assist supply to Gaza is being accomplished by UNRWA, he mentioned: “Palestinians know and trust UNRWA.”
The Israeli laws to ban the company “makes a mockery of international law and imposes massive constraints on UNRWA’s operation. We are determined, however, to stay and deliver until it is no longer possible to do so,” he affirmed.
Israel moved to bar the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees from engaged on Israeli territory after alleging that a few of its staff had been concerned within the Hamas assault on Israel in October 2023. It insists that different organizations can decide up the slack to offer important providers, assist and reconstruction – one thing the U.N. disputes.
The ban, which is ready to take impact on Jan. 30, additionally prohibits Israeli officers from cooperating with the group.
Israel, in the meantime mentioned on Tuesday it could proceed on with the choice and stop all contact with UNRWA and another physique appearing on its behalf, inside subsequent 48 hours.
“Israel will terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf,” Israel’s envoy to U.N., Danny Danon, mentioned.
“The legislation forbids UNRWA from operating within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel, and forbids any contact between Israeli officials and UNWRA,” mentioned Danon.
U.S. help
United States threw its weight behind the transfer of its closest Middle East ally, accusing Lazzarini of overstating the affect of the choice.
“The United States supports the implementation of this decision,” mentioned Dorothy Shea, a United States consultant to the U.N.
Norwegian Refugee Council’s Secretary-General Jan Egeland, then again warned that “rubble removal in northern Gaza could take as long as 21 years” and value “at least $1.2 billion for two decades.”
“For two decades, children will have nowhere to play due to the rubble and the debris and the countless unexploded bombs,” he mentioned.
Israel’s assaults on Gaza have killed a minimum of 47,317 individuals since October 2023, the bulk civilians, in line with figures from well being ministry in besieged enclave.
A cease-fire and hostage launch deal between Israel and Hamas is now in place, supposed to convey an finish to the greater than 15 months of warfare.
Months of relentless offensive by Israel created a deep humanitarian disaster, destroying hospitals and sparking outbreaks of infectious illnesses whereas tons of of 1000’s of Gazans confronted hunger situations and have trusted meals assist.
Saying that humanitarians on the bottom are growing their assist help for these severely affected by Israel’s relentless bombing, Egeland famous the wants as full and unrestricted entry, safety and safety, coordination and oversight, in addition to monetary and operational help.
“Given the fragile nature of the Gaza cease-fire and the potential for more violence in the West Bank, the Security Council, in accordance with your mandate, should put all of your energies into achieving a peaceful resolution to the question of Palestine, in line with international law, the U.N. General Assembly,” he mentioned.
Source: www.dailysabah.com