Lazzarini: Israeli Knesset vote on UNRWA will deepen Palestinian suffering
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2024-10-28 12:00
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Top Stories
Jerusalem – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is facing a new challenge to its operations after the Israeli Knesset passed a preliminary vote to reduce funding to the agency. The vote, which passed by a margin of 57-44, would cut Israel’s annual contribution to UNRWA from $13 million to $5 million.
The proposed funding cut comes at a time when UNRWA is already facing a financial crisis. The agency, which provides essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, has been struggling to make ends meet in recent years due to a combination of factors, including the Trump administration’s decision to cut off funding to the agency.
In a statement issued after the Knesset vote, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that the proposed funding cut would have a “devastating” impact on the agency’s operations. “This cut would deepen the suffering of Palestine refugees and destabilize the entire region,” Lazzarini said.
The Knesset vote is not the first time that Israel has taken action against UNRWA. In 2018, Israel expelled UNRWA staff from the Gaza Strip and closed the agency’s offices in the territory. Israel has also accused UNRWA of being a “terrorist organization” and of supporting Hamas.
UNRWA has denied these allegations and has said that it is a neutral humanitarian organization that provides essential services to Palestinian refugees. The agency has also said that it is committed to working with Israel to find a solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees.
Lazzarini: Israeli Knesset vote on UNRWA will deepen Palestinian suffering
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