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🎧 Israel bans UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees amid ongoing attacks in Lebanon and Gaza
💬 In the Middle East.
Israel is banning a UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees from operating in its territory as well as in areas under its control.
Lee Eun-hee explains.
On Monday, Israel's parliament passed a bill banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency from operating on Israeli territory and areas under Israel's control.
The "UNRWA," providing life-saving services in war-torn Gaza, was established in 1949 to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement about the legislation, reiterated his claims that UNRWA employees are involved in Hamas-related terrorist activities.
In response, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern, stating there is no viable alternative to the UNRWA, warning that the legislation could have "devastating consequences" for Palestinians.
The legislation is set to take effect in 90 days, further jeopardizing an already strained aid distribution process for Gazan civilians.
The UNRWA’s former General Counsel said on Tuesday that Israel's move represents a broader attack on the UN system, calling for a strong response.
The move has also drawn worldwide condemnation from countries including Australia, Belgium, Jordan, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
World leaders have described it as "intolerable, illegal, and nothing less than collective punishment."
This decision by Israel comes despite U.S. State Department concerns that there is no substitute for the UNRWA amid the ongoing crisis and a statement from foreign ministers of seven countries, including South Korea, opposing Israel's actions.
Meanwhile, Israel's attacks in Lebanon are intensifying.
According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, at least sixty people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday night across twelve areas in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, including two children.
Nearly 60 others were reported injured.
The Israeli military's offensive in Gaza continues, with reports of at least seven Palestinians killed in northern Gaza and ten in the central region.
Additionally, reports stated that the Israeli military set fire to a school run by the UNRWA in the Jabalia refugee camp.
Since the onset of the Middle East conflict, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed forty-3-thousand while in Lebanon, it has exceeded 2-thousand-and-7-hundred.
✈️ @ingliztili_audiolar
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🎧 Israel bans UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees amid ongoing attacks in Lebanon and Gaza
💬 In the Middle East.
Israel is banning a UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees from operating in its territory as well as in areas under its control.
Lee Eun-hee explains.
On Monday, Israel's parliament passed a bill banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency from operating on Israeli territory and areas under Israel's control.
The "UNRWA," providing life-saving services in war-torn Gaza, was established in 1949 to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement about the legislation, reiterated his claims that UNRWA employees are involved in Hamas-related terrorist activities.
In response, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern, stating there is no viable alternative to the UNRWA, warning that the legislation could have "devastating consequences" for Palestinians.
The legislation is set to take effect in 90 days, further jeopardizing an already strained aid distribution process for Gazan civilians.
The UNRWA’s former General Counsel said on Tuesday that Israel's move represents a broader attack on the UN system, calling for a strong response.
The move has also drawn worldwide condemnation from countries including Australia, Belgium, Jordan, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
World leaders have described it as "intolerable, illegal, and nothing less than collective punishment."
This decision by Israel comes despite U.S. State Department concerns that there is no substitute for the UNRWA amid the ongoing crisis and a statement from foreign ministers of seven countries, including South Korea, opposing Israel's actions.
Meanwhile, Israel's attacks in Lebanon are intensifying.
According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, at least sixty people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday night across twelve areas in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, including two children.
Nearly 60 others were reported injured.
The Israeli military's offensive in Gaza continues, with reports of at least seven Palestinians killed in northern Gaza and ten in the central region.
Additionally, reports stated that the Israeli military set fire to a school run by the UNRWA in the Jabalia refugee camp.
Since the onset of the Middle East conflict, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed forty-3-thousand while in Lebanon, it has exceeded 2-thousand-and-7-hundred.
✈️ @ingliztili_audiolar