Israel’s decision to ban the operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank will have “disastrous consequences,” the agency head said on Wednesday.
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said Israel’s actions will impact millions of Palestinians.
“In Gaza, dismantling UNRWA will collapse the UN humanitarian response, which relies heavily on the agency’s infrastructure,” he said.
He warned that an “entire generation will be denied the right to education,” adding that only UNRWA could deliver an education to more than 650,000 children in Gaza without a “capable public administration or state.”
In Gaza, UNRWA is essential for humanitarian aid, where almost the entire population of around 2.3 million Palestinians relies on aid for survival.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long called for UNRWA to be dismantled, accusing it of anti-Israeli incitement. Israel also says UNRWA staff took part in the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on Israel. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the US, EU and Israel, among others.
Last month, lawmakers in the Knesset passed two bills preventing the UNRWA from operating within Israeli territory.
Meanwhile, the UN said it won’t replace UNRWA services as that responsibility lies with Israel as the occupying power.
“If UNRWA is no longer able to operate it would be the responsibility of the Israeli authorities to replace its services that it delivers to civilians,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
ss/sms (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
