The Chair of the International Development Committee has asked
the Foreign Secretary how the Government will respond to Israel's
planned ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which comes into
effect on 28 January 2025.
“Israel's effective legislative ban on UNRWA must not be allowed
to be implemented,” MP writes, in a letter to
Foreign Secretary . “A ban would not only risk
contravening numerous laws and obligations but would lead to an
immediate, potentially irreparable, degradation in the living
conditions of Palestinians.”
UNRWA was established by the United Nations to support
Palestinian refugees after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Its mandate
to operate was recently extended until 30 June 2026.
But Israel's Parliament –
the Knesset –passed two laws in October effectively prohibiting
contact between representatives of UNRWA and Israeli authorities.
This followed allegations in early 2024 that 19 UNRWA staff were
involved in the 7 October attacks on Israeli
citizens.
In the letter, the Chair says the new laws likely present a
breach of several international obligations, including the
Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Convention. It may
also violate provisional rulings of the International Court of
Justice on preventing genocide in Gaza.
The Chair asks what contingencies are in place if the legislation
is implemented and what representations the Foreign Secretary has
made to his Israeli counterparts on the impact of the laws.
