EU Voices Concerns Over Israeli Legislation Targeting UNRWA.

JERUSALEM: The European Union expressed its grave concern on Monday over the risks of an Israeli occupation legislation set to be voted on in the Knesset tonight, targeting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). According to Kuwait News Agency, the EU warned of the far-reaching consequences of adopting these laws "de facto" rendering UNRWA's vital operations in Gaza "impossible", seriously hampering UNRWA's provision of health, education, and social services in the occupied West Bank and revoking UNRWA's diplomatic privileges and immunities. The EU stated that this legislative move "stands in stark contradiction to international law and the fundamental humanitarian principle of humanity, and will only exacerbate an already severe humanitarian crisis, potentially halting essential services such as food, shelter, education, and healthcare for millions of Palestinian refugees in these territories." The EU emphasized that all UN agencies embody the rules-based international o rder, as they uphold and implement both the letter and spirit of the UN Charter, to which all member states must adhere. The statement further stressed that UNRWA is the sole provider of these critical services and is essential for delivering emergency relief to millions of Palestinian refugees. It highlighted UNRWA's long-standing commitment to its specific mandate established by the UN General Assembly in 1948, employing over 40,000 staff across the region, including 13,000 in Gaza. The EU noted that the proposed laws from the Israeli occupation's parliament (Knesset) could include, in addition to the proposal to expel UNRWA from its premises in East Jerusalem, potential violations of the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the occupation's obligations under international law. It warned that "millions of lives could be at stake, and therefore these obligations cannot be disregarded any longer." The EU exhorted the Israeli occupation to ensure that UNRWA can contin ue its essential work in crisis-affected areas in accordance with its mandate from the UN General Assembly and to reconsider these proposed legislations in order to prevent disruptions to UNRWA's life-saving services and ensure continuous and unhindered humanitarian access for UNRWA to the Palestinian refugees it was established to serve. Additionally, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting UNRWA and its mission while maintaining neutrality, accountability, and oversight in its partnership.