On Wednesday, the UN Security Council members issued a warning to Israel not to move forward with a bill that would limit the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees.
Israel has long harbored animosity toward UNRWA and has claimed that some of its staff members took part in the Hamas attacks on October 7 that set off the Gaza War.
On Sunday, the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee passed two proposals that virtually ended UNRWA’s operations and privileges in Israel. Antonio Guterres, the UN leader, swiftly denounced these legislation.
Washington’s envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Wednesday that the United States was “following with deep concern the Israeli legislative proposal that could alter UNRWA’s legal status.”
It was potentially “hindering its ability to communicate with Israeli officials and removing privileges and immunities afforded to UN organizations and personnel around the globe.”
Algeria declared, “For years, the Israeli authorities has made clear its desire, its will to dismantle UNRWA.” Algeria and Slovenia had convened the emergency Security Council meeting on the crisis in the Palestinian territories.
It represents the unalienable rights of Palestinian refugees. Amar Bendjama, the ambassador of Algeria, a non-permanent member of the Security Council, stated, “We reiterate that the rights of Palestinian refugees are not subject to statutes of limitations.”
