United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, a UN spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the move would “further impede” the agency’s ability to operate and carry out activities.
“The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations remains applicable to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), its property and assets, and to its officials and other personnel. Property used by UNRWA is inviolable,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, said while adding that UNRWA is an “integral” part of the world body.
UNRWA Commissioner General Phillipe Lazzarini also condemned the move, saying that it was part of an ongoing “ systematic campaign to discredit UNRWA and thereby obstruct” the role it plays in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees.
In 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning the agency from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency.
As a result, UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, which the UN considers territory occupied by Israel. Israel considers all Jerusalem to be part of the country.
The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It has long had tense relations with Israel but ties have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to be disbanded, with its responsibilities transferred to other UN agencies.
The prohibition of basic utilities to the UN agency came as Israel also suspended of dozens of international non-governmental organizations working in Gaza due to a failure to meet new rules to vet those groups.
In a joint statement, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom said on Tuesday such a move would have a severe impact on the access of essential services, including health care. They said one in three health care facilities in Gaza would close if international NGO operations stopped.
UN chief condemns Israeli law blocking electricity, water for UNRWA facilities
https://arab.news/vquvs
UN chief condemns Israeli law blocking electricity, water for UNRWA facilities
- The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria
Syrian forces enter Hasakah after SDF releases Daesh detainees
- Army units are securing Al-Shaddadi prison and its surrounding areas while pursuing the arrests of Daesh detainees
- The Syrian army said it holds the SDF fully responsible for the release of Daesh components
LONDON: The army of the Syrian Arab Republic launched sweeping operations south of Hasakah in the country’s northeast to arrest members of the Daesh terror group on Monday after the Syrian Democratic Forces released them from a prison in the town of Al-Shaddadi.
The army’s Operations Command announced that its units were securing Al-Shaddadi prison and its surrounding areas while also pursuing the arrests of Daesh detainees. The prison and Al-Shaddadi’s security facilities will be handed over to the Ministry of Interior immediately upon completion of security operations, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Syrian military leaders contacted mediators and SDF officials to transfer control of the prison and its perimeter to the government’s internal security forces, but SDF leaders declined, according to SANA.
The Syrian army said it holds the SDF fully responsible for the release of Daesh components from Al-Shaddadi prison, emphasizing that army units would implement necessary measures to restore security in the area.
Syrian forces began deploying across the Jazira region on Monday to secure it under an agreement between the Syrian state and the SDF.
