EU expresses persistent worry over potential aftereffects of UNRWA restriction
Revised Article:
In Brussels, the EU voiced its continued worries about the long-term effects of Israel's prohibition on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on February 2. Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, expresses her apprehension about the potential ramifications of Israel's actions on UNRWA's operations in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
Kallas condemns any efforts to undo the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA or obstruct the agency's mission. She emphasizes the importance of UN organizations, particularly UNRWA, in delivering vital assistance to the civilian population in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
With the rapid implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement necessary, the EU underscores the significance of essential services provided to Palestinian refugees by UNRWA. Kallas expresses the EU's steadfast support for the United Nations and the multilateral international order, reiterating its commitment to backing UNRWA to fulfill its mandate.
Simultaneously, Kallas expects the Independent Review Group's report recommendations to be fully implemented, addressing allegations against some UNRWA staff members. She also condemns Hamas' suspected use of UNRWA facilities, as reported by Israeli hostages.
The EU anticipates the United Nations to institute decisive measures to maintain neutrality, accountability, and strengthen control and supervision to prevent further incidents. UNRWA's director of communications has confirmed that the agency continues its work despite the Israeli government's ban.
The fifteen months of conflict between Hamas and Israel left UNRWA severely impacted, with 270 employees losing their lives, many while performing their duties. Two-thirds of UNRWA facilities were destroyed or damaged by bombing, affecting schools, warehouses, convoys, and shelters for displaced people.
The long-term implications of Israel's ban on UNRWA encompass humanitarian access, regional stability, and legal precedents. The EU's response to the ban remains unclear, but historical support as a major donor suggests potential friction with Israel's policy. The absence of EU representation in ICJ hearings leaves its position ambiguous, although member states may address Gaza's aid collapse through bilateral channels.
Without alternative organizations rapidly scaling operations, malnutrition and preventable deaths may escalate in the wake of exhausted food stockpiles. The ICJ's ruling, while non-binding, could influence global opinion and jurisprudence, intensifying diplomatic pressure on Israel. The UNRWA ban risks perpetuating Gaza's humanitarian disaster while testing international legal frameworks for conflict zones.
- The EU's continued worry extends to the international implications of Israel's ban on UNRWA, especially in countries like Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
- Kaja Kallas, the EU high representative, underscores the importance of UNRWA in delivering essential services, including in Syria and other conflict-ridden areas.
- In light of allegations against some UNRWA staff and the use of UNRWA facilities by Hamas, the EU expects measures to maintain neutrality and accountability, globally relevant in war-and-conflicts politics.
- General news outlets report on the EU's steadfast support for UNRWA, highlighting the potential for increased political tension between the EU and Israel due to its ban on the agency in Gaza.
