Monday 24 February 2025 12:38 GMT

Thousands of Palestinian refugees risk losing essential services provided by UNRWA in Jerusalem


(MENAFN) By the end of January 2025, thousands of Palestinian refugees risk losing essential services provided by UNRWA in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, as new Israeli legislation comes into effect, banning the agency from operating in these areas. The Israeli Knesset passed two laws on October 28, 2024, which prohibit UNRWA’s activities inside Israel, revoke its privileges, and prevent any official communication with the agency. One of the laws annuls the agreements made in 1967 between Israel and UNRWA that facilitated its operations. Jonathan Fowler, UNRWA’s chief liaison officer, stated that these new laws would disrupt the agency’s ability to operate in the occupied Palestinian territories, jeopardizing vital services, including education and healthcare, which are critical to the ongoing ceasefire efforts.

Fowler emphasized that the UN does not plan to replace UNRWA, as no other agency or international NGO is equipped to offer the same range of services. He also pointed out that the Palestinian Authority lacks the resources to take over these functions, such as educating over 47,000 children in the West Bank and re-enrolling 660,000 children currently out of school in Gaza. In case it is forced to stop its operations, UNRWA has vowed to continue providing services in any way possible. If the agency is ultimately barred from operating, Fowler stated that Israel, as the occupying power, would bear the responsibility of providing basic services like healthcare and education to Palestinian refugees. Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, condemned the Israeli legislation, reaffirming that UNRWA cannot be replaced, and that these actions violate international law while depriving Palestinians of crucial rights and services.

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