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Pledges to Maintain Humanitarian Efforts Despite Israeli Ban
New York, January 31, 2025 (AFP): The United Nations has announced that its relief agency, UNRWA, will continue its humanitarian operations in Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, despite a new Israeli law severing ties with the organization.
Israel had decided to ban UNRWA, alleging that some of its staff members were affiliated with Hamas.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, stated:
"UNRWA clinics across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remain open. Meanwhile, humanitarian operations in Gaza continue, including UNRWA’s work there."
For decades, UNRWA has played a key role in coordinating humanitarian aid in Gaza.
A series of investigations found some "neutrality-related issues" within UNRWA but stressed that Israel had not provided evidence that a significant number of its staff were linked to terrorist organizations.
Dujarric reaffirmed:
"UNRWA will continue to fulfill its mandate… until it is no longer able to do so."
He clarified that no staff members are currently present at the agency’s East Jerusalem headquarters, which primarily handles administrative affairs. However, Palestinian employees are working from other locations, while foreign staff have been forced to leave Israel.
Dujarric further stated:
"We had taken precautions. All essential equipment, files, computers, and vehicles had been removed from the premises."
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