Belgian Foreign ministry: Israeli prohibition of refugee agency threatens UN mission

Belgium has condemned Israel’s recent law forcing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, to cease operations within its borders. The measure threatens the multilateral system of the United Nations, according to the Belgian ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement on Monday, the ministry emphasised the “crucial and irreplaceable role” of UNRWA, which provides essential services to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. However, the expulsion, set to take effect in 2025, would effectively halt UNRWA’s operations as Israel controls all border crossings.

The ministry expressed grave concern over the consequences this law will have on Palestinian refugees, who depend heavily on UNRWA for their livelihood and dignity. The Belgian government calls on Israel to honour its international obligations and to allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid.

The statement said that, in the absence of a global, just and lasting solution for the conflict and the status of Palestinian refugees, UNRWA’s mandate remains vital as it embodies the UN’s commitment to the Palestinian issue.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres had previously warned of the severe humanitarian repercussions of the new law. 

 

A United Nations vehicle parked near a UNRWA truck that was fired upon by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip © PHOTO EYAD BABA / AFP


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