The Arab League announced on Wednesday its plan to convene an emergency meeting on Thursday to address Israel’s recent decision to bar the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within Palestinian territories.
According to a statement from the league, the upcoming session, requested by Jordan and to be chaired by Yemen, aims to forge a unified response to the ban. It will gather the league’s permanent representatives at its Cairo headquarters to discuss the matter.
This meeting follows the passage of a bill by the Israeli Knesset on Monday, which prohibits UNRWA from functioning in the region. This legislation is poised to significantly affect the agency’s operations in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, with an implementation period of 90 days.
Jordan’s formal request to the Arab League for this emergency gathering reflects concerns over Israel’s actions regarding UNRWA. Israel has accused UNRWA employees of colluding with Hamas during the cross-border incursion on October 7, 2023, alleging that the agency’s educational programs incite “terrorism and hatred.” However, UNRWA, headquartered in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, firmly denies these allegations and emphasizes its commitment to neutrality, focusing on assisting Palestinian refugees.
Established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1949, UNRWA provides essential aid and support to Palestinian refugees in various regions, including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini characterized the Israeli ban as “unprecedented and dangerous,” asserting that it contravenes the UN Charter.
Since the Hamas attack last year, the Israeli military has continued a large-scale offensive in Gaza, disregarding a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Local health authorities report that over 43,160 people have died, mostly women and children, and more than 101,500 have been injured.
The Israeli campaign has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza amidst an ongoing blockade, resulting in severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies. Furthermore, Israel faces allegations of genocide at the International Court of Justice due to its military actions in the region.
