People in war-torn Gaza are already struggling with a deep humanitarian crisis—but now they fear it will get much more difficult because of Israel’s ban on the biggest UN agency which operates there.
“UNRWA means everything to us: it is our life, our food, our drink and our medical care,” said Yasmine el-Ashry in Khan Younis.
Despite international opposition, in Israel’s parliament there was wide support for the new legislation, which will prevent Israeli officials being in contact with UNRWA- the UN's relief and works agency for Palestinian refugees in the Near East. The agency is accused of being complicit with Hamas. UNRWA insists on its own neutrality.
Israel stands accused of being in breach of the UN charter and its obligations under international humanitarian law. However, ultimately domestic politics outweighed these considerations.
UNRWA was set up in 1949 by the UN General Assembly in the wake of the first Arab-Israeli war which followed the creation of the state of Israel.
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