The Irish government has criticised Israel for applying new pressure on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
In a joint move with other European countries, Ireland says that Israel has targeted UNRWA’s essential supplies.
In a statement the foreign ministers of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia and Spain condemn the latest Israeli legislation targeting UNRWA, including measures to cut water, electricity and communications to its facilities.
“Such actions undermine the UN mandate, violate international law and run counter to the findings of the International Court of Justice, while risking grave humanitarian consequences for the Palestinian civilian population and refugees.”
UNRWA says that Israel’s actions “are further compromising the humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip.”
Ireland considers the UN work, along with other NGOs to be “essential to confront the catastrophic humanitarian situation and to deliver life-saving assistance and essential services to the civilian population in Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the wider region.”
Together with Spain and others, Ireland is calling on Israel to allow aid agencies to be permitted to operate in Gaza.
“Any deregistrations [must] be halted”, they urge.
“We underline the obligation to ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and to enable the continued functioning of UN humanitarian operations and their partners, in line with IHL [International Humanitarian Law] and relevant international legal obligations.
Respect for the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and for international humanitarian law is imperative.”
Conditions in Gaza remain critical with reports of soaring poverty, unemployment and depravation.