EU warns of consequences due to Israel's ban on UNRWA activity

EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has expressed concerns over the disastrous consequences of Israel's initiative.

Israel's initiative is to prohibit the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"The EU expresses serious concern regarding the bill concerning UNRWA currently under discussion in the Israeli parliament. The EU supports the call from the UN Secretary-General on this issue and shares the apprehension that, if passed, this bill could have catastrophic consequences," Borrell stated. 

This statement comes in the wake of the Israeli Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee approving a bill on October 6 that seeks to ban UNRWA's operations within the country. The document emphasises that the EU urges Israeli authorities to allow UNRWA to continue its work and render essential services to millions of people.  

The EU will continue rendering support to UNRWA and other agencies of the United Nations.   Earlier, on October 10, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that Israel was undermining the UN resolutions that facilitated Israel’s emergence as a state.  

The diplomat noted that a paradoxical situation has arisen, in which the Israeli side is deliberately undermining the resolutions that enabled the country to join the UN.   On the same day, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired upon three UN peacekeeping positions in southern Lebanon, resulting in minor injuries to two peacekeepers.  

In January 2024, several countries decided to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) amid suspicions of its involvement in the attacks on Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023. This decision was made by Germany, Japan, the US, Italy, Canada, Finland, and the UK.  

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive rocket attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel initiated retaliatory strikes on the same day.

By Naila Huseynova