JERUSALEM (NPTV/Radio Pakistan): Despite objections from USA, Israeli parliament passed a law on Monday (28th October, 2024) banning UNRWA from working in Israel.
It is pertinent to mention here that UNRWA had, for the last 70 years, has provided aid to Palestinians. The ban will hinder this work.
During the year-long Hamas-Israeli war, 223 UNRWA lost their lives and 2/3rd of its facilities in Gaza have been destroyed.
On 28th October (2024) UNRWA took to the Twitter to state that a Ceasefire was needed immediately for the sake of all the children in Gaza as well in the region.
Agency maintains that in the Gaza Strip, “UNRWA teams continue to support children through play and learning activities wherever possible.
“All children, no matter where they are, deserve to go to school, learn. and thrive. We need Ceasefire Now, for the sake of all children…”.
It is pertinent to mention here that 223 UNRWA workers had lost their lives since the Hamas-Israel war commenced.
Calling Gaza the most dangerous place in the world for aid workers, the agency further revealed that never in the history of UN so many aid workers died. Nevertheless, the UN workers remain undeterred and continue to provide aid ‘amid the dire humanitarian crisis’.
UN had been informed by Israel on 24th March, 2024 that it would no longer approve the passage of any United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), food convoys into northern Gaza.
“This is outrageous and makes it intentional to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine. These restrictions must be lifted,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said on social media platform X.
“As of today, UNRWA, the main lifeline for Palestine refugees, is denied from providing lifesaving assistance to northern Gaza,” Lazzarini wrote.
Foreign Office said Pakistan unequivocally condemns the latest Israeli attempt to dismantle the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
It said this latest step is yet another Israeli violation of international law and the UN Charter. Preventing UNRWA from carrying out its vital tasks is a manifestation of Israel’s systematic campaign to deny the much needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
The Foreign Office called upon the international community, in particular the United Nations Security Council, to hold Israel accountable for its actions and ensure the unimpeded operations of UNRWA, in accordance with the relevant UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) of 1949.
The international community also needs to step in to end Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza.
The Foreign Office said sustainable peace in the region cannot be possible without the Palestinian people exercising their inalienable right to self-determination and the creation of a viable, secure, contiguous and sovereign State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Newspakistan.tv/Radio Pakistan
