‘Proposed law blocking UNRWA would be catastrophe’, UN chief Guterres warns Israel

In July, Israel’s parliament gave initial approval to a bill that would label UNRWA a terrorist organisation. Israeli officials have long accused the agency’s staff of collaborating with Hamas militants in Gaza.

In response to Guterres’ remarks, Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon told Reuters, “Israel works with humanitarian agencies that are actually interested in humanitarian aid and not activism or, in some cases, terrorism.”

Tensions between Israel and UNRWA, which provides crucial services including education and healthcare to millions of Palestinian refugees, have escalated sharply since the beginning of the ongoing Gaza conflict. The U.N. said that several UNRWA employees may have been linked to the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, with nine staff members having been dismissed.

In a press briefing, Guterres reiterated his concerns about the war, which erupted after a shocking Hamas raid in Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, as per Israeli figures. “Ordering civilians to evacuate does not keep them safe if they have no safe place to go and no shelter, food, medicine or water,” Guterres stated.

The Israel-Gaza war has intensified regional tensions, raising fears of a broader conflict involving Israel and Iran, alongside Iranian-backed militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel has continued to expand its military presence in southern Lebanon, with additional troops deployed to counter Hezbollah, signaling an expanded ground offensive.

Israel’s military also continues to engage in skirmishes with Houthi rebels in Yemen, another Iranian ally, raising concerns about escalating violence. The US has urged restraint and is actively involved in diplomatic efforts, warning against the broader regionalisation of the conflict.

American forces have bolstered their presence in the region to deter further aggression from Iran-backed militias while reinforcing Israel’s right to self-defence.

Guterres urged both Israel and Hezbollah to ensure the safety of UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, particularly after Israeli forces were seen operating near a UNIFIL post staffed by Irish peacekeepers. Guterres confirmed he raised this concern with the US, leading to the Israeli forces withdrawing from the area.

(with inputs from Reuters)