If Israel proceeds to ban this agency's operations, it would further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,
I emphasize peace for peace, peace out of strength with important countries in the Middle East,
If UNRWA goes away, you will see civilians - including children, including babies - not be able to get access to food and water and medicine that they need to live. We find that unacceptable,
If Israel is not in a position to meet such needs, it has an obligation to allow and facilitate the activities of the United Nations, including UNRWA, and other humanitarian agencies, until the needs of Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are met,
Israel, as the occupying power, continues to be required to ensure that the needs of the population are met,
I appeal to you and to the government of Israel to prevent such devastating consequences and to allow UNRWA to continue carrying out its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in accordance with its obligations under international law,
There is no alternative to UNRWA,
The UN stands as the primary advocate for refugee rights in Gaza. Without its support, Palestinians in Gaza would lose all humanitarian aid, effectively placing their lives under Israeli government control, and enabling a more systematic and complete erasure of Palestinian identity,
National legislation cannot alter those obligations,
Failing to push back these bills will weaken our common multilateral mechanism established after World War II. This should be a concern to all,
There could be consequences under U.S. law and U.S. policy for the implementation of this legislation,
Clarifying what is legal and what is illegal still makes sense, even if it does not turn into political change overnight,
Israel will continue to facilitate humanitarian aid in Gaza according to international law."
There will be severe consequences if the work of UNRWA is obstructed.
We’ve been very clear that Israel must ensure that UNRWA can deliver aid at the speed and scale needed to address a humanitarian emergency in Gaza.
Is this not verging on the definition of collective punishment?
We expect robust processes to continue to meet the highest standards of neutrality.
If Israeli ministers decide to implement this, aren’t they effectively engaging in an act of warfare by starvation?
We are going to engage with the Government of Israel in the days ahead about how they plan to implement it. We'll watch and see if there are legal challenges to the law, and if there's any impact by those legal challenges, and then we will make our decisions after looking at all those factors.”
We are therefore requesting that The International Court of Justice (ICJ) pronounces on Israel's obligations to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population, delivered by international organizations, including the UN, and states,