Pressmediaofindia
Related Articles
30-10-2024
BEIRUT/ JERUSALEM: The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has said the Israeli parliament’s decision to ban his organization increases the suffering of Palestinians and is “nothing less than collective punishment”.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 60 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on several areas in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.
More than 1,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israel’s 25-day siege and military offensive in northern Gaza, health officials in the war-torn territory say. In Gaza, at least 43,020 people have been killed and 101,110 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.
In Lebanon, at least 2,710 people, including at least 127 children, have been killed and 12,592 wounded in Israeli attacks since the war in Gaza began.
Antonio Guterres said he was deeply concerned by the Israeli legislation banning UNRWA, saying the implementation of these laws would be “detrimental” for the resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
“There is no alternative to UNRWA,” the UN chief said in a statement.
“The implementation of the laws could have devastating consequences for Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is unacceptable,” he continued.
“I call on Israel to act consistently with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and its other obligations under international law, including under international humanitarian law and those concerning privileges and immunities of the United Nations. National legislation cannot alter those obligations.”
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said UNRWA does life-saving work and that her government opposes the Israeli Knesset’s decision to “severely restrict” the agency’s operations. “Australia again calls on Israel to comply with the binding orders of the ICJ to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza,” she said.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said UNRWA has been an “irreplaceable lifeline” for the Palestinian people for the past seven decades.
“UNRWA was created by the UN member states. Today’s decision by the Israeli parliament barring UNRWA from its life-saving and health-protecting work on behalf of millions of Palestinians will have devastating consequences,” he said.
“This is intolerable. It contravenes Israel’s obligations and responsibilities, and threatens the lives and health of all those who depend on UNRWA.”
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “strongly condemned” the Israeli move, describing it as a “flagrant violation of international law and the obligations of Israel as the occupying power” in Palestine, according to the Petra news agency.
Sufyan Al-Qudah, a spokesman for the ministry, called for immediate action to protect the Palestinian people and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), warning that the Israeli campaign “aimed at assassinating UNRWA politically” would have “catastrophic consequences”.
He also said that “Israel’s attempts to target UNRWA and its symbolism, which emphasizes the right of Palestinian refugees to return and compensation in accordance with international law, are doomed to failure”.
The governments of the four European countries all of which have recognized Palestinian statehood issued a joint statement condemning the Knesset’s targeting of the agency.
“UNRWA has a mandate from the United Nations General Assembly,” the statement said. (Int’l News Desk)
