The UK Government's efforts to defend UNRWA are welcome, but more
action is needed to combat the continued harassment and
undermining of UNRWA by the Government of Israel, the
International Development Committee Chair has said.
The Chair of the Committee, , has commented today
following the publication of
correspondence from of Darlington, Minister of
State for International Development, Latin America and the
Caribbean, regarding UNRWA's operations in Israel and in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
MP, Chair of the
International Development Committee (IDC), said: “I
commend the Government's attempts to defend UNRWA, but Israel's
forced closure of UNRWA schools, and the storming of UNRWA's
headquarters in East Jerusalem, are sadly only the latest in a
long line of actions intended to undermine the work of UNRWA. As
Israel continues to ignore international law, what further action
will the UK Government consider to help ensure the continued
operation of UNRWA and the reopening of UNRWA-run schools?
“The Government has outlined its work with international
counterparts to try and stop military operations in Gaza and
allow humanitarian aid to enter. What discussions is the UK
Government having with the United States to try and bring
pressure to bear and reopen UNRWA-run schools and restore access
for Palestinian refugees to UNRWA services in the West Bank?”
, Chair of IDC, wrote to Foreign
Secretary (Friday 9 May), in
response to reports that armed guards forced UNRWA into closing
three schools operating across East Jerusalem and three within
the Shu'fat refugee camp.
