MAPW strongly condemns the decision of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, to approve bills to prohibit UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and their descendants, from operating in Israeli territory and to prevent Israeli authorities from having contact with UNRWA.
UNRWA serves the vital needs of Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and provides a lifeline to the people of Gaza, who are being deprived of water, food, medicine, shelter, education, safety, and life by the Israeli government.
This decision will increase preventable suffering and death, especially amongst children. Israel is also denying other medical and humanitarian aid agencies lifesaving access to Gaza, and attacking medical and humanitarian personnel and installations – actions that are a blight on the conscience of humanity and demand the strongest possible condemnation.
These bills are the latest development in Israel’s campaign to discredit and destroy UNRWA. Our own government has been shamefully complicit in these efforts, suspending funding – without cause – to UNRWA between January and March 2024, and failing to protect UNRWA’s mandate in the face of repeated Israeli military attacks on UNRWA staff and facilities.
The Australian government’s repeated expressions of ‘grave concern’ have no effect. Many Australians are distressed that our government still maintains a close diplomatic relationship with Israel and has failed to condemn a single action of its government and military. Australia must act to protect the people of Gaza, uphold the mandate of UN agencies, and use all tools available to demonstrate its oft-stated commitment to international law.