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An Israeli child at the entrance of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in East Jerusalem (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP) Published by Middle East Eye


UNWRA Health Center. Published by IMENC News

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Announcement comes as Knesset pushes forward bill to ban refugee agency activities in Israel and occupied territories

By MEE staff
Published date: 10 October 2024 16:02 BST | Last update: 4 days 4 hours ago

Israel has confiscated land on which the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) is located in Jerusalem, with plans to build 1,440 settlement units on the site.

According to Israel Hayom, the free daily newspaper, the Israel Land Authority announced the confiscation of the land in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem.

Dan Iloz, a Likud MP, told the paper that the "expropriation of land in Jerusalem is an important step, but not enough" and denounced Unrwa as "a hotbed for terrorism under a humanitarian guise".

The announcement comes a day after members of the United Nations Security Council warned Israel against proceeding with a law, promoted by Iloz and others, aimed at curbing Unrwa's ability to operate.

The Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved two bills on Sunday which effectively aim at ending Unrwa's activity and privileges in Israel.

Washington's envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, warned that the bill risked "hindering its ability to communicate with Israeli officials and removing privileges and immunities afforded to UN organizations and personnel around the globe".

In January, a number of countries suspended financing for the agency after Israel accused 12 of the 30,000 Unrwa employees of participating in Hamas's surprise attack on southern Israel on 7 October.

Most resumed funding, however, after a UN report found that Israeli authorities had not provided "any supporting evidence" to back up allegations of Unrwa staff links to Hamas.

Germany, Australia, Canada, Sweden and Japan were among the countries to restore funding to Unrwa following the report.

The US has held out on funding the organisation, however.

Algeria, a non-permanent Security Council member, warned on Wednesday that "for years, the Israeli authorities have made clear its desire, its will to dismantle Unrwa.

"It symbolises the Palestinian refugees and their inviolable rights. We reiterate that the rights of Palestinian refugees are not subject to statutes of limitation," said Amar Bendjama, ambassador of Algeria and its representative at the UN.
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Israeli Forces Take Over UNRWA Headquarters in Jerusalem

by IMEMC News
Oct 13, 2024

Israeli occupation forces have seized control of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem.

The Israeli government plans to build 1,440 settlement units on the site.

According to the Middle East Eye, the announcement comes a day after members of the United Nations Security Council warned Israel against proceeding with a law, promoted by Iloz and others, aimed at curbing UNRWA’s ability to operate.

The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved two bills on Sunday which effectively aim at ending UNRWA’s activity and privileges in Israel.

The US envoy to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, warned that the bill risked “hindering its ability to communicate with Israeli officials and removing privileges and immunities afforded to UN organizations and personnel around the globe”.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned in a statement on Saturday that “the continuation of the systematic Israeli targeting campaign against the agency aims to dismantle it and deprive millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria of its essential services, in addition to liquidating the issue of Palestinian refugees and their right to return to their areas and homes, which is guaranteed by international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, specifically UN General Assembly resolutions 194 and 237.”

The Ministry also stressed that the Israeli occupation’s efforts to liquidate UNRWA are a link in a chain of reprehensible targeting of the United Nations itself, including those working in its various organizations, affirming in this context that this dangerous situation puts the international community before a real test, which requires immediate action to confront it firmly .

The State of Qatar’s full support for UNRWA, based on its firm and supportive position towards the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, foremost of which is their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.