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Israel's Knesset Votes 92-10 to Ban UNRWA Amid International Concern Over Humanitarian Impact

Oct 28, 2024, 06:48 PM

The Israeli Knesset has passed legislation to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating within Israel, including in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The bills, approved on October 28 in a 92-10 vote despite international objections, aim to restrict UNRWA's activities amid allegations from Israeli officials that the agency is linked to Hamas and employed staff involved in the October 7 attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable. The legislation has prompted grave concern from international partners, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, and the United States, who have urged Israel to reconsider the measures. The U.S. State Department expressed deep concern over the legislation, emphasizing that it had made its concerns clear to Israel. UNRWA officials have called the decision an unprecedented escalation, warning that the ban could lead to the collapse of humanitarian operations and paralyze the delivery of life-saving aid to Palestinian refugees.