Israel's potential ban on Palestinian aid agency UNRWA raises concerns

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said successful a briefing connected Monday that nan Biden management was profoundly concerned astir a ballot by Israel's parliament to walk 2 laws that could forestall nan U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees — nan largest assistance supplier successful Gaza — from operating successful nan Palestinian territories.

The Knesset ballot was nan culmination of a long-running run against nan United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees successful nan Near East, known arsenic UNRWA, which nan Israeli authorities contends has been infiltrated by nan militant group Hamas. UNRWA denies nan allegations.

"UNRWA workers progressive successful violent activities against Israel must beryllium held accountable," nan agency of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said connected societal media hours aft nan Knesset vote. "Since avoiding a humanitarian situation is besides essential, sustained humanitarian assistance must stay disposable successful Gaza now and successful nan future. In nan 90 days earlier this authorities takes effect — and aft — we guidelines fresh to activity pinch our world partners to guarantee Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian assistance to civilians successful Gaza successful a measurement that does not frighten Israel's security."

Miller said nan transition of nan authorities could person implications nether U.S. rule and U.S. policy.

"We person made rather clear to nan authorities of Israel that we are profoundly concerned," he said.

Miller outlined nan domiciled UNRWA has successful providing humanitarian assistance for Palestinians successful nan region, peculiarly successful Gaza.

"They really play an irreplaceable domiciled correct now successful Gaza, wherever they are connected nan beforehand lines getting humanitarian assistance to nan group that request it," Miller said. "There's cipher that tin switch them correct now successful nan mediate of nan crisis. So we proceed to impulse nan authorities of Israel to region nan implementation of this authorities ... and we will see adjacent steps based connected what happens successful nan days ahead."

The Knesset ballot prompted outcry from nan United Nations, arsenic good arsenic from governments astir nan world.

"There is nary replacement to UNRWA," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said successful a statement. "I telephone connected Israel to enactment consistently pinch its obligations nether nan Charter of nan United Nations and its different obligations nether world law, including nether world humanitarian rule and those concerning privileges and immunities of nan United Nations. National authorities cannot change those obligations. The implementation of these laws would beryllium detrimental for nan solution of nan Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for bid and information successful nan region arsenic a whole."

Guterres said he would beryllium bringing nan matter to nan U.N. General Assembly.

The governments of Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain besides condemned nan move and said successful a associated connection that "the authorities approved by nan Knesset sets a very superior precedent for nan activity of nan United Nations and for each organizations of nan multilateral system."

The 4 countries said they will "continue to activity pinch philanthropist and big countries to guarantee nan viability of UNRWA's activity and its humanitarian role," nan connection said.

The U.K. called UNRWA "a lifeline" for Palestinians, and its overseas caput said successful a connection connected societal media that "the bills restricting UNRWA are wholly wrong."

Germany said nan authorities would "effectively make UNRWA's activity successful Gaza, nan West Bank and eastbound Jerusalem intolerable ... jeopardizing captious humanitarian assistance for millions of people."

If nan bills are implemented, "there will beryllium terrible humanitarian consequences connected nan group that we serve," UNWRA Director of Communications Juliette Touma told CBS News. "Why not attraction connected what really needs to hap correct now, which is simply a cease-fire and woody to merchandise nan hostages and an betterment besides successful statement pinch what nan missive from nan United States said that was sent to nan Israeli authorities to summation nan travel of humanitarian supplies. That's what nan attraction should beryllium connected correct now."

Hamas said nan ballot was an enactment of "Zionist aggression."

The warfare betwixt Israel and Hamas began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, sidesplitting immoderate 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting astir 250. Some 100 hostages are still wrong Gaza, a 3rd of whom are believed to beryllium dead.

Israel's retaliatory violative has killed complete 43,000 Palestinians, according to section wellness authorities. Around 90% of nan organization of 2.3 cardinal person been displaced from their homes, often aggregate times.

Haley Ott contributed to this report.

In:
• Hamas
• Israel
• United Nations
• Gaza Strip