Serious allegations against UNRWA staff in the Gaza Strip!

Описание: Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/eudebates Within hours, Israel, bruised and outraged by a body its officials have decried as anti-Semitic and favourably disposed to Palestinian propaganda, found an excuse to flaunt the ruling. 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), the agency responsible for distributing aid in Gaza, were accused (not found) by Israel’s intelligence agency, Shin Bet, of involvement in the Hamas attacks of 7 October.

Imperilled, tormented Palestinians in Gaza had little time to celebrate the January 26 order of the International Court of Justice. In a case brought by South Africa intended to facilitate a ceasefire and ease the suffering of the Gaza populace, Israel received the unwanted news that it had to, among other obligations, ensure compliance with the UN Genocide Convention, including by its military; prevent and punish “the direct and public incitement to genocide” against the Palestinian populace in Gaza and permit basic services and humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip.

The response from UNRWA was swift. Contracts were terminated; an investigation was launched, including a full inquiry into allegations made against the organisation. The Agency’s Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini promised, on 27 January, that “Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.”

Europe exposed: Is the EU a direct partner in the Israeli genocide in Gaza?

Not content with this, Israel stormily took to the campaign trail hoping to rid Gaza of the UN agency it has despised for years. UNRWA, after all, is a salutary reminder of Palestinian suffering, dispossession and desperation, its existence a direct result of Israeli foreign policy. Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, was severe in laying bare his country’s loathing for UNRWA. “We have been warning for years: UNRWA perpetuates the refugee issue, obstructs peace and serves as a civilian arm of Hamas in Gaza,” he stated on Shabbat. “UNRWA is not the solution – many of its employees are Hamas affiliates with murderous ideologies, aiding in terror activities and preserving its authority.” Deviously and fiendishly, Katz was dismissing the entire enterprise of aid through a UN outlet as a terroristic extension, rather than the ghastly product of Israel’s own ruthless, generational war against Palestinians. Leave it to us to oversee matters of aid: we know best.

Powers, many with military ties with Israel and sluggish about holding the Jewish State to account in its Gaza campaign, were relieved by the distraction. Rather than assessing their own export regime, the grant of licenses in the arms market in gross violation of human rights and the facilitation of crimes against humanity, an excuse to continue and prolong the weapons transfers and assistance to Israel, had presented itself.

Within hours, nine states had added their names to the list suspending allocated aid. Australia, along with the United States and Canada, rushed to the podium to condemn UNRWA and freeze funding. The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland followed.

The measure of rage could now be adjusted and retargeted. A spokesperson for the UK government was “appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK government has repeatedly condemned.” The US State Department was “extremely troubled” and had “temporarily paused additional funding. Canada was also “deeply troubled by the allegations relating to some UNRWA employees”.
Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, despite accepting that UNRWA’s role in conducting “vital, life saving work”, “providing essential services in Gaza directly to those who need it, with more than 1.4 million Palestinians currently sheltering in its own facilities”, felt a suspension of funding was wholly sensible. This, coming from a minister who never tires about praising international law and its profoundly sacred qualities.

The assessment by Lazzarini was one of dismay and bafflement by the speed at which the funding had been halted. “These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work across the region, including and especially in the Gaza Strip.”

Stay connected with us!
Facebook:   / eudebates.tv  
Twitter:   / eudebates  
Instagram:   / eudebates.tv  

#eudebates the unique initiative aiming to promote debate, dialogue, knowledge, participation and communication among citizens. #Israel #Gaza #truce #hostages #Palestine #Hezbollah #hostage #Netanyahu #Jerusalem #Palestinians #MiddleEast #gazawar #Hamas #war #Hamas #massacre #israelpalestineconflict #israelhamaswar #ceasefire