Barran Press
On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the Republic of Yemen condemned Israel's recent legislation prohibiting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from conducting its humanitarian activities.
In a statement, the Yemeni Foreign Ministry described these actions as "arbitrary and a further undermining of humanitarian principles and laws," warning that they could severely exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The statement called on the international community and the United Nations Security Council to put an end to these practices and daily crimes by declaring an immediate ceasefire that ensures the security, stability, and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in accordance with the two-state solution, the Arab Peace Initiative, and international resolutions and charters.
On Monday evening, the Israeli Knesset (parliament) voted overwhelmingly, with 92 out of 120 votes, to ban UNRWA's activities in areas that Israel claims to be "under its sovereignty."
Under the new law, the 1967 agreement that allowed UNRWA to operate in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories is revoked, and any communication between Israeli officials and UN agency employees is prohibited.
UNRWA was established by a resolution from the United Nations General Assembly in 1949. It is mandated to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operation: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
The need for UNRWA's relief, health, and educational services has escalated, particularly in light of the ongoing genocide being perpetrated by Israel with U.S. support against the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
This conflict has resulted in over 144,000 Palestinian casualties, primarily women and children, alongside more than 10,000 missing individuals, amid widespread destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of countless children and the elderly, marking one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.
According to UNRWA figures, approximately 5.9 million Palestinian refugees are eligible for the agency's services.