Diplomatic crisis: the Western powers oppose the law against UNRA – this is the claim

War of Iron Swords: Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, South Korea and the United Kingdom express concern about Israel’s legislation against UNRA and warn of damage to humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Starting this morning (first) Activists of the “If You Want” movement exert enormous pressure on the members of the government and on the Knesset Speaker and the Coalition Chairman demanding not to give in to diplomatic pressures and to complete the transfer of the UNRA laws.

The Am Tiratze movement, the leader of the public struggle to close UNRA’s activities in Israel, said: “The people of Israel will not forgive those who give in to pressure. While we are burying our best warriors every day who show extraordinary bravery and courage, the minimum we expect from elected officials is to keep their word and show courage in the face of pressure. Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz and Knesset Chairman Amir Ohana – the entire Israeli people are watching. Don’t be afraid at all, pass the laws”.

The letter from the foreign ministers reads: “We, the foreign ministers of Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom, express our deep concern about the legislation being promoted in the Israeli Knesset, which aims to cancel the privileges and immunities of the UN relief organization, the agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA). The previous legislation prohibits any contact between official Israeli institutions and UNRWA, the legislation also prohibits any presence of UNRWA inside Israel.”

UNRWA provides vital and life-saving humanitarian aid and basic services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the entire region. Without its work, the provision of aid and essential services, including education, health services and fuel distribution in Gaza and the West Bank, will be severely affected, which will have a devastating impact on the already critical and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, especially in northern Gaza.”

“It is essential that UNRWA and other organizations and agencies of the United Nations be able to fully provide humanitarian aid and any additional aid to those who need it most, while effectively fulfilling their mandates. We call on the government of Israel to comply with its international obligations, to maintain UNRWA’s rights and immunities without hit and live up to its responsibility to allow full, fast, safe and uninterrupted humanitarian aid, alongside basic services for the civilian population.”

“We once again condemn the brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. UNRWA has taken a series of steps to deal with the criticism regarding its individual employees’ support for terrorist organizations, and has demonstrated its willingness to continue to implement reform in internal processes.”

“We call on UNRWA to continue the steps of the reform and put it at the top of the organization’s priorities, to demonstrate its commitment to the principle of neutrality and to ensure that its activities remain completely in line with its mandate. We will continue to actively monitor and support this process.”

There is massive international pressure on Israel to remove from the Knesset’s agenda the two UNRA laws that are currently expected to be approved tomorrow in the second and third readings.