Photo Source: RomanDeckert – CC BY-SA 4.0

The man has one cheek. Lecturing the Iranians and Lebanese about what (and who) is best for them in terms of rulers and governance (we already know what he thinks of the Palestinians), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is busy further denying the Palestinians access and aid. in Gaza and the West Bank. This comes alongside draft legislation that would prevent the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from performing its valuable functions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Israeli state’s campaign against UNRWA was brutal and pathological. Even before Hamas’s October 7 attacks last year, there was much talk of the fact that the organization was determined to keep current on the horrors of the 1948 displacements. The forgetful enforcers of the Israeli state complained that victimization was encouraged by treating the grandchildren of displaced Palestinians as refugees. Bad memories were kept alive.

Since then, Israel has been further slandering and smearing the organization as a terrorist front best eliminated. (The labels switch effortlessly: “Hamas supporter”; “activist”; “terrorist”.) At first came the infamous dossier, which pointed to 12 alleged Hamas participants in the October 7 attacks. The UN quickly began internal investigations. Some people were dismissed on suspicion of being involved in the attacks. Unfortunately, $450 million worth of donor funding from sixteen countries has been suspended.

UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini has always to explain He said that he was “never informed” and that no evidence was obtained confirming Israel’s accusations. Moreover, it was even more intriguing that the agency’s personnel lists had already been given to both Israeli and Palestinian officials. He was never “in the slightest concerned about the staff we employ.”

Lazzarini in April said The UN Security Council stated that “an insidious campaign is ongoing to terminate UNRWA’s operations, which will have serious consequences for peace and security.” The agency’s requests to send aid to northern Gaza have been repeatedly rejected, staff have been prevented from coordinating meetings between humanitarian actors and Israel, and UNRWA facilities and staff have been targeted.

Israel’s campaign to dissuade donor states from reclaiming funds has turned out to be messy. Even the United Kingdom, which has long been sympathetic to Israel’s accusations, announced This financing will be provided again in July. According to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, UNRWA had taken steps to ensure it met the “highest standards of impartiality”.

In August, findings of a review Some of the allegations instigated by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna upon the request of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have been disclosed. It confirmed that UNRWA’s role is “irreplaceable and indispensable” as a “crucial” body providing “life-saving humanitarian assistance and basic social services, especially health and education” to Palestinian refugees in the absence of a political solution between Israel and the Palestinians . In Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank.”

In identifying eight areas requiring immediate improvement in impartiality (for example, donor participation, staff impartiality, facilities, training and staff unions), agency staff noted that “Israel has not yet provided supporting evidence” on this issue. “Members of a terrorist organization.”

UNRWA on 24 October approved He said Mohammed Abu Attawi, one of its employees killed in Israel’s offensive in Gaza, had been with the agency since July 2022, while serving as Nukhba commander in Hamas’ Bureij Battalion. Attawi is alleged to have participated in the killing and kidnapping of Israelis from a roadside bomb shelter near Kibbutz Re’im in October last year. His name was included in a letter Israel sent to the agency in July, listing 100 names allegedly linked to terrorist groups. However, no action was taken against Attawi due to the Israelis’ failure to provide evidence to UNRWA. Lazzarini’s letter included the following statements: words There was “no response” to a request from Juliette Touma, the agency’s communications director, for the agency to “cooperate by providing more information so we can take action.”

Israeli lawmakers, whose efforts to end UNRWA’s viable existence have been thwarted on several fronts, are now pursuing legislation that would solidify collective punishment against the Palestinian people. Two bills are on the agenda in the Knesset. The first one is sponsored Figures such as Yisrael Beytenu MP Yulia Malinovsky and Likud MP Dan Illouz would ban state officials from contacting UNRWA. The second, sponsored by Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, would severely hinder the agency from operating on Israeli territory by revoking the 1967 exchange of notes that legitimized such activities.

Even declared moderates (the term is relative) such as former defense minister Benny Gantz support the measures. accuses The UN body “has made itself an integral part of the Hamas machinery – and now is the time to completely separate ourselves from it”. It did not improve the situation of the refugees, it only continued their “victimization”. Frankly, according to Gantz, Israel did not have a central role in creating Palestinian victims.

Blocking cooperation between any Israeli official and UNRWA would make work in Gaza and the West Bank virtually impossible; This is largely because Jerusalem no longer allows access to these areas or any coordination with the Israel Defense Forces.

UN Secretary General Guterres he was horrified in two invoices. “This would effectively end coordination to protect UN convoys, offices and shelters serving hundreds of thousands of people.” While the ambassadors of 123 UN member countries reiterated the same views, the Biden administration said helplessly: warned He said the proposed “restrictions would devastate the humanitarian response in Gaza at this critical moment” and would also deprive Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem of education and social services.

on October 23 expressionThe Scandinavian countries also expressed concern that UNRWA’s mandate to “(…) conduct direct aid and work programs” for millions of Palestinian refugees, as determined by UN General Assembly resolution 302 (IV), would be revoked. “Amid the ongoing catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, any suspension of the organization’s activities would have devastating consequences for the hundreds of thousands of civilians UNRWA serves.”

A warning was given in the continuation of the statement. Undermining the refugee agency “(Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem) would create a vacuum that could destabilize the situation in Israel and the region as a whole and fundamentally jeopardize the possibility of a bilateral agreement.” State solution.”

These are concerns that bear little weight in the face of the logic of lethal collective punishment used against a population seen as mute serfs and obedient animals rather than sovereign beings with rights and protections. Israel’s efforts to disparage and cripple UNRWA remain a vital part of this agenda. This organization contains a repository of deep and disturbing memories that oppressive forces wish to erase.