Israel gives 48 hours UNRWA to pack Hamas’ ties

By Corey Walker – Algemeiner.com

Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon Reaffirmed on Tuesday that the controversial United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees and their descendants will face an imminent ban on Israel for its links with the Hamas terrorist group.

“Within 48 hours, the State of Israel will cease cooperation with UNRWA,” said Danon to the United Nations Security Council, referring to the United Nations Rescue and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees of the Near East. “UNRWA must stop its activities and evacuate all its facilities in Jerusalem.”

The public announcement occurred after Israel adopted legislation in October prohibiting UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory and to prohibit any Israeli authority from engaging with the agency.

Israel followed the legislation last week, issuing a directive to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres demanding that UNRWA ceases all activities in East Jerusalem by January 30.

“This decision was motivated by the constant refusal of UNRWA to combat the generalized infiltration of its ranks by Hamas and other terrorist organizations,” added Danon in his remarks on Tuesday.

The Israeli government and research organizations have published results showing many UNRWA employees, including teachers and school directors, are active members of Hamas, some of whom were directly involved in the massacre of the terrorist group Palestinian of October 7, 2023 in southern Israel, while many others have openly celebrated him.

Tuesday, Danon said that UNRWA would be prohibited to “maintain any representative, office, service or activity inside” of Israel and the Jewish State “will end any collaboration, communication or contact with UNRWA or anyone operating in their name ”.

The ambassador said that the decision was “necessary” because of UNRWA’s decision to continue “political agendas, negligence and concealations on humanitarian principles”. In addition, Danon argued that UNRWA “did not benefit people who were supposed to benefit from their services”.

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Israel has argued that the agency still uses some 450 terrorist agents in Gaza, even after having dismissed several on their alleged involvement in the attacks of October 7 of October 7 against southern Israel. Many countries, including the United States, has taken a break of UNRWA in the midst of allegations that the agency helped Hamas terrorists. UNRWA employs 14,000 staff members in Gaza.

UNRWA officials have denied the complicity of the agency in the massacre of October 7 and argued that their work of help in Gaza is crucial to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the enclave torn by the war.

“In two days, our operations on the occupied Palestinian territory will be paralyzed,” said UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini The United Nations Security Council of 15 members said on Tuesday. “The complete implementation of the legislation on the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) will be disastrous.”

However, US officials said the UN “exaggerated” the impact of Israel’s decision.

“UNRWA exaggerating the effects of the laws and suggesting that they will force the entire humanitarian response to the judgment is irresponsible and dangerous,” US Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the Security Council on Tuesday.

“What is necessary is a nuanced discussion on how we can make sure that there is no interruption in the provision of humanitarian aid and essential services,” she declared. “UNRWA is not and has never been the only option to provide humanitarian assistance in Gaza.”

Experts have told Algemeiner that UNRWA promotes new generations of terrorists, partly through school programs that promote hatred of Jews and Israelis.

Danon argued that the Jewish state should not be forced to collaborate with an organization that compromises its national security and that it will continue to pursue partnerships with humanitarian groups which are not linked to terrorists.

Video: UN Watch Hillel Neuer