At UN DK, Only US Supports Israel Bans UNRWA In Palestine

Illustration. (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - At the UN Security Council, the United States isolated on Tuesday, January 28, in support of Israel's decision to ban UNRWA, many member countries voiced strong support for the agency's continued operations.

Dorothy Shea, US Ad Interim's attorney for the United Nations, told the Security Council that the US was "supporting the implementation" of Israel's Knesset's decision to ban the operation of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Israeli-occupied territory.

Although UNRWA has a mandate from the UN General Assembly, Shea claims that "Israel's decision to close the UNRWA office in Jerusalem on January 30 is Israel's sovereignty decision."

"UNRWA who overestimated the impact of the law and stated that the law would stop all humanitarian responses is irresponsible and dangerous. What is needed is a more in-depth discussion of how to ensure there is no interference in providing humanitarian aid and essential services," he said, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 29.

Shea also claims that UNRWA is not the only option to provide humanitarian assistance in Gaza" and accuses the UN agency of having "relations with terrorists."

Russia's envoy to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the US of supporting the killing of innocent civilians by providing weapons to Israel and preventing ratification of Security Council resolutions.

"The US also blocks any attempt to design a collective Security Council move to defend UNRWA," he said.

Calling Israel's efforts to shut down UNRWA as a violation of international law, Nebenzia said: "We ask our colleagues in Washington to be aware and put the necessary pressure on Western Jerusalem so as not to exacerbate the suffering of Palestinian civilians."

Algerian envoy to the United Nations, Amar Bendjama, said, "The presence of Palestinians in their homeland depends on the services provided by UNRWA."

"The cessation of the agency's activities will only support a destructive plan aimed at removing Palestinian existence between rivers and seas," he added, stressing that supporting UNRWA is a shared responsibility.

Britain's deputy envoy to the United Nations, James Kariuki, asked Israel to allow UNRWA to continue "saving operations" and "important services."

Pakistan's envoy, Munir Akram, confirmed that "Israel has no right as a occupation force to close any UN facilities."

Emphasizing that there is no alternative to UNRWA, France's envoy to the United Nations, Nicolas de Riviere, notes that the agency not only provides humanitarian assistance but also provides public services.

"UNRWA did it at a cost three times lower than other UN agencies," he added.

The Chinese envoy, Fu Cong, urged the Israeli parliament not to impose a ban on UNRWA.

Other member states such as Denmark, Slovenia, Somalia, and Guyana also expressed strong solidarity with the UN agency.

In his speech at the end of the session, Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, reminded the Council that UNRWA was founded to reduce the impact of Israeli attacks on the lives and rights of Palestinians.

Mansour said that UNRWA initially provided emergency assistance, but then took on roles such as promoting human development and building hope amid poverty and despair.

He stated that UNRWA has a mandate until "Palestinian questions are completed in all aspects, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions."

"The latest humanitarian crisis caused by humans (Gaza crisis), an unprecedented crisis, shows the urgency to implement such a solution," said Mansour.

Stressing the need for long-term solutions to the Palestinian issue, Mansour said, "UNRWA staff and humanitarian workers have paid very high prices for their efforts to help people who are deliberately targeted, starving, and forced eviction."

He also believes that only UNRWA has the capacity of personnel and infrastructure to fulfill the tasks needed in emergency conditions in the field.

Emphasizing that Israel has no right to "choose who represents the Palestinian people or the United Nations," Mansour said that Israel "cannot distort the laws and narratives. They cannot claim a special status that allows them to commit crimes and enjoy impunity. The problem is not on the rules, but on the offenses."