Israel will ban UNRWA from its territory. Criticism from the EU and US: “It is irreplaceable”

Brussels – With a lowered head, the Israeli government continues to undermine international law and its institutions. After rejecting the recommendations of the International Court of Justice, branding the UN secretary-general as “persona non grata” on the national territory, Tel Aviv closes the circle and prepares, within three months, to permanently ban the United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Last night (Oct. 28), the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, overwhelmingly passed two bills defining UNRWA as a terrorist organization and banning the UN agency from conducting “any activities” inside Israel, in East Jerusalem, and the occupied West Bank. In 90 days, no Israeli officials will be allowed to maintain any contact with UNRWA employees, effectively making it impossible for the agency to work in Gaza as well since cooperation with the Israeli army – which controls all entrances to the Palestinian enclave – is essential to move aid into the territory.

Just as in the north of the Strip, the risk of ethnic cleansing by Israel is increasing by the day: according to the United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR), “the way the Israeli army is conducting hostilities in northern Gaza, coupled with illegal interference with humanitarian assistance and orders that are leading to forced displacement” could result in “the destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza’s northernmost governorate.”

However, Tel Aviv’s campaign to delegitimize UNRWA has been going on since January, when it accused the agency of “colluding with Hamas” and 12 of its members of participating in the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks. Initially, most of the Western countries on whose donations UNRWA’s work relies froze funding, only to release it for lack of evidence to support of Israeli allegations. Having failed the option of international delegitimization, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu chose to go it alone to jeopardize the agency’s survival.

Netanyahu reiterated that “UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable,” adding, however, that “sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza.” Not exactly what is happening, according to reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In the first three weeks of October, on average, 28 humanitarian trucks per day were allegedly allowed into the Strip from the southern Kerem Shalom crossing, “among the lowest since October 2023” and “well below the average of 500 trucks per working day” before October 7. During the same period, the situation was even worse at the Al Rashid checkpoint, a junction for reaching Gaza’s northern governorates from the south: according to OCHA, Israeli authorities reportedly facilitated the passage of only 6 percent – 4 out of 70 – of humanitarian convoys.

 Even before the vote in the Knesset, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, had expressed “grave concern” about two laws that will have “far-reaching consequences, de facto rendering UNRWA’s vital operations in Gaza impossible.” In an attempt to call out the Israeli partners and urge them “to reconsider the issue,” Borrell had called the laws “in stark contradiction to international law and the fundamental humanitarian principle of humanity.” Similarly, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called on Israel to reconsider the ban, saying that UNRWA is “irreplaceable” at this time for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In a statement, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said the Israeli parliamentary vote “sets a dangerous precedent” and is “the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to Palestine Refugees.” Not only do the nearly 2 million internally displaced persons in the Gaza Strip depend on the UN agency, but some 6 million Palestinian refugees throughout the region.

 For UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, implementing the laws “is unacceptable.” Guterres called Israel “to act in a manner consistent with its obligations under the UN Charter and its other obligations under international law.” A call destined to fall on deaf ears, uttered by a man treated by Israel as a terrorist who can no longer even set foot on Israeli soil.

According to Nicola Zingaretti, leader of the PD delegation to the European Parliament, “The law wanted by the Israeli right against UNRWA is yet another mistake by Benjamin Netanyahu. An inhuman choice and in full violation of international law.”