UN Pressures Israel to Fill Humanitarian Duties Amid UNRWA Ban

UN Pressures Israel to Fill Humanitarian Duties Amid UNRWA Ban\ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The United Nations has urged Israel to meet humanitarian obligations if it enacts laws cutting ties with UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Secretary-General António Guterres warned of “devastating” impacts on Palestinians who rely on UNRWA for essential aid. Israel’s recent legislation, opposed by numerous countries, could restrict the agency’s work in Gaza, risking a humanitarian crisis.

UN Presses Israel to Uphold Humanitarian Duties Amid Threat to UNRWA: Key Points

• Humanitarian Duties: The UN warns that under international law, Israel must ensure Palestinian needs if UNRWA is barred from Gaza.
• Guterres’s Urgent Plea: Secretary-General Guterres stresses there’s no UN alternative to UNRWA, warning of severe humanitarian consequences.
• Global Opposition to Israeli Legislation: The U.S., Norway, and others oppose Israel’s move, which may disrupt essential services.
• Israel’s Accusations: Israel claims UNRWA has ties to Hamas, while the UN denies these and urges cooperation.
• UN Agency Responses: Agencies stress UNRWA’s irreplaceable role, with the WHO noting it provided over 6 million medical consultations last year.

Deep Look

UN Warns Israel of Humanitarian Obligations as New Laws Threaten UNRWA’s Role in Palestinian Aid

The United Nations has issued a warning to Israel, stressing that if the Israeli government passes laws cutting ties with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Israel will legally be required to meet Palestinians’ humanitarian needs under international law. The legislation, passed on Monday but set to take effect in three months, could block UNRWA’s operations in Palestinian territories, raising fears of a worsening crisis.

Guterres Emphasizes Lack of Alternative to UNRWA

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced serious concerns over the potential impact of Israel’s legislation, emphasizing that UNRWA, established in 1949 to aid displaced Palestinians and their descendants, has been critical to those affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. UNRWA has been essential in Gaza, providing life-saving services like food, healthcare, and education. Without this support, “the humanitarian situation will be devastating,” said U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

Guterres has appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reconsider the legislation, stressing that, as an occupying power under international humanitarian law, Israel would bear the responsibility of providing essentials such as food, healthcare, and education for Palestinians. “Should UNRWA cease to operate—and for us, there is no alternative—Israel would have to fill the vacuum,” Dujarric warned.

Wide Opposition to New Legislation from Global Powers

The U.S., Norway, and several other countries have expressed opposition to Israel’s legislation, stressing that UNRWA plays a vital role that no other agency can fulfill. More than 1.8 million Palestinians depend on UNRWA in Gaza alone, and the agency has provided over 6 million medical consultations and vital services. Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide announced Tuesday that Norway will propose a resolution in the U.N. General Assembly asking the International Court of Justice to rule on whether Israel has an obligation to facilitate aid access in the Palestinian territories.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield voiced her own concern over the new Israeli laws, describing UNRWA as indispensable for Palestinians reliant on its food and healthcare services. “There is no alternative to UNRWA,” she said, urging Guterres to establish a mechanism to investigate claims that some UNRWA staff may be linked to Hamas. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reinforced these concerns, warning that Israel’s legislation “poses risks for millions of Palestinians who rely on UNRWA for essential services.”

UNRWA’s Essential Role Amidst Allegations from Israel

Israel’s government has argued that UNRWA has allegedly facilitated Hamas’s influence in Gaza, claiming that Hamas assets and militants have been present within the agency’s facilities. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon accused UNRWA of harboring extremists, arguing that the agency “has turned a blind eye to terrorism.” Danon went further, alleging that UNRWA is “an arm of Hamas” and that it has failed in its mission.

UNRWA, however, has consistently denied these allegations, arguing that it is focused exclusively on humanitarian aid. World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic highlighted the irreplaceable nature of UNRWA’s work, noting the organization’s broad scope of services from disease prevention to malnutrition screening and immunizations for vulnerable populations.

Consequences of Potential UNRWA Shutdown

Without UNRWA’s services, the United Nations warns that Gaza’s access to critical resources would be severely impacted. Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, stated that UNRWA’s absence would disrupt the delivery of food, shelter, healthcare, and education services to most of Gaza’s population, leaving millions without essential resources. The agency has been a vital source of aid since the beginning of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, helping displaced Palestinians and their descendants.

Global Response and Pressure on Israel

Timed with Israel’s legislative decision, Norway announced it would seek an advisory ruling from the U.N.’s International Court of Justice on Israel’s responsibilities in ensuring aid delivery. “Israel’s policy is making it increasingly difficult for Palestinians to access life-saving assistance and basic services,” Norway’s Foreign Minister Eide told the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, other nations have raised concerns about the regional impact of Israel’s legislation on the broader Middle East. Calls for cease-fires in Gaza and Lebanon were also made during the U.N.’s Security Council meeting, open to all member states. Thomas-Greenfield, representing the U.S., asked Guterres to create a system for reviewing allegations against UNRWA staff and warned of potential repercussions for U.S.-Israel relations if humanitarian aid in Gaza remains restricted.

Looking Forward: Israel’s Obligations and Potential Legal Ramifications

Guterres’s letter to Netanyahu underscores the legal implications Israel may face if it fails to ensure the welfare of Palestinians. As the occupying power, Israel is bound under international law to either directly meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population or allow U.N. agencies to do so. U.N. legal experts suggest that if Israel disrupts UNRWA’s operations, it may face international pressure or sanctions, especially if humanitarian conditions deteriorate.

The U.N. has called on its member states to continue their support of UNRWA, with spokesperson Dujarric affirming that “there is no substitute” for the agency in Gaza. The U.N.’s internal watchdog is already investigating claims brought forth by Israel, which Dujarric stated are being treated “extremely seriously.”

As discussions unfold, the potential three-month countdown to UNRWA’s operational cutoff remains a central concern for both the U.N. and global humanitarian organizations. The implications of Israel’s new laws are expected to resonate well beyond the borders of Gaza, raising the stakes for international diplomacy and humanitarian aid.

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