Amnesty Condemns Israel’s UNRWA Ban as ‘Criminalization of Humanitarian Aid’
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Amnesty International urged global leaders to denounce Israel’s new laws restricting the operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, warning the measures will deepen the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, criticized the Israeli laws, calling them "an outright attack on the rights of Palestinian refugees."
“This unconscionable law is clearly designed to make it impossible for the agency to operate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory by forcing the closure of the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem (al-Quds) and ending visas for its staff,” Callamard said in a statement.
“It amounts to the criminalization of humanitarian aid and will worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.”
She added that the move contradicts International Court of Justice (ICJ) directives instructing Israel to ensure sufficient humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.
“This appalling, inhumane law will only exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians, who have endured unimaginable hardship and whose need for global support is greater than ever,” she said.
The Palestinian presidency announced Tuesday it would pursue diplomatic efforts in response to the Israeli Knesset's passage of the legislation banning UNRWA activities.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the presidency intends to engage with countries hosting Palestinian refugees to consider raising the issue before the UN Security Council and General Assembly.
It emphasized that the ban is tied to the resolution of the Palestinian issue in accordance with international law and held Israel fully responsible for the consequences.
“Without a just solution to the Palestinian issue based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, all ongoing aggressive and unacceptable Israeli practices will not bring security and stability but will instead escalate tensions in the region,” the presidency warned.
The Knesset passed the laws on Monday, blocking UNRWA from conducting activities or providing services in Israeli-occupied territories, including occupied East Al-Quds, Gaza, and the West Bank, with the legislation set to take effect in 90 days.
Israel has accused UNRWA of complicity in Hamas’s October 7, 2023 operation, alleging that the agency’s educational programs promote terrorism and incite hatred.
UNRWA, based in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Al-Quds, denied the allegations, maintaining its neutrality and affirming its mandate to assist Palestinian refugees.
The agency was created by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, Israel has continued its offensive on Gaza.
Local health authorities report that more than 43,060 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, with over 101,200 injured.
The Israeli war has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza amid severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies due to an ongoing blockade.
Meanwhile, Israel faces genocide charges at the ICJ over its military aggression in Gaza.