Lazzarini: Israeli Knesset vote on UNRWA will deepen Palestinian suffering
2024-10-28 12:00
The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Filippo Grandi, has said that a vote by the Israeli Knesset to cut funding to the agency will deepen the suffering of Palestinian refugees.
The Knesset vote, which passed on Tuesday, will see Israel withhold NIS 137 million (US$ 39 million) from UNRWA. The move comes after the agency was accused of anti-Semitism and incitement.
Grandi said that the vote was “deeply regrettable” and that it would have a “devastating impact” on the lives of Palestinian refugees.
“UNRWA is a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees,” Grandi said. “It provides them with food, water, shelter, education, and healthcare. Without UNRWA, these refugees would be left destitute and vulnerable.”
Grandi called on Israel to reconsider its decision and to continue funding UNRWA. He also urged the international community to step up its support for the agency.
UNRWA was established in 1949 to provide relief and assistance to Palestinian refugees. The agency currently provides services to over 5 million refugees in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
The Israeli government has been a major donor to UNRWA, but it has reduced its funding in recent years. In 2018, Israel withheld NIS 100 million from the agency.
The Knesset vote to cut funding to UNRWA is the latest in a series of measures taken by the Israeli government to pressure the agency. In 2019, Israel banned UNRWA staff from entering the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli government has accused UNRWA of being biased against Israel and of inciting violence against Israelis. UNRWA has denied these accusations.
The decision by the Knesset to cut funding to UNRWA has been welcomed by some Israeli officials. However, it has been condemned by Palestinian officials and by human rights groups.
The Palestinian Authority has said that the vote will “destroy” UNRWA and will “leave millions of Palestinian refugees without food, water, and shelter.”
Human rights groups have said that the vote is a “violation of international law” and that it will “deepen the suffering of Palestinian refugees.”
The United Nations has called on Israel to reconsider its decision. The UN has said that UNRWA is a “vital” organization that provides “essential services” to Palestinian refugees.
Lazzarini: Israeli Knesset vote on UNRWA will deepen Palestinian suffering
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