UNRWA

2024 - 10 - 28

Ireland Weighs In: Taoiseach's Strong Reactions to UNRWA Ban!

collective punishment - humanitarian aid - international relations - Israeli Knesset - Oxfam - Palestinian refugees - Taoiseach Simon Harris - UNRWA

The Israeli Knesset bans UNRWA, stirring strong feelings in Ireland! Find out why this matters and what's next. #UNRWA

In a surprising turn of events, the Israeli Knesset passed a controversial bill that bans the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within Israel. This move is seen as a significant blow to humanitarian aid efforts, particularly for Palestinian refugees who rely heavily on this agency. The legislation not only prohibits ties between Israeli officials and UNRWA but also strips its staff of their legal immunities, raising serious concerns about the future of aid delivery in these tumultuous times.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has stepped into the fray, condemning this legislation as an affront to international aid principles. He urged all United Nations member states to echo this condemnation, underlining how critical UNRWA's role is in providing essential services such as education, health care, and emergency relief to Palestinian communities. With the backdrop of ongoing conflict, the Knesset's decision sends shockwaves through those already struggling in the region.

UNRWA, regarded as a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees, has now found itself categorized as a 'terror group' under the new legislation - a label that many argue is politically motivated and detrimental to peace efforts. International organizations, including Oxfam, have voiced their concerns about the implications of this bill, stating it could escalate tensions rather than promote stability. The agency's head, Philippe Lazzarini, warns that this could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe if left unaddressed.

On a lighter note, can you imagine if the Knesset’s next vote was on banning pizza? Thankfully, the fate of the beloved toppings remains safe while this serious humanitarian concern looms. It's also worth noting that UNRWA isn't just a random acronym; it’s helping over five million Palestinian refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza. Oh, and did you know that each year, they provide over $1 billion in services? That's a lot of aid!

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Image courtesy of "Irish Examiner"

Taoiseach 'strongly condemns' Israeli bill banning UN aid agency ... (Irish Examiner)

The Bill prohibits ties between Israeli officials and UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and strips its staff of their legal immunities.

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Image courtesy of "UN News"

Lazzarini: Israeli Knesset vote on UNRWA will deepen Palestinian ... (UN News)

Monday's vote by the Israeli Knesset banning the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) contradicts principles of the UN Charter, violates Israel's obligations ...

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Image courtesy of "RTE.ie"

Taoiseach condemns Israeli bill banning aid agency UNRWA (RTE.ie)

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said all United Nations member states should condemn legislation passed by the Israeli parliament that bans the UN agency for ...

Oxfam reaction to Israel's banning of UNRWA | Oxfam International (Oxfam International)

In reaction to the Knesset passing bills banning UNRWA from operating in areas under Israel's control, Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam Regional Director in the ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Israeli parliament votes to ban Unrwa from Israel within 90 days (The Guardian)

Lawmakers also voted to declare UN relief agency a terror group, banning any direct interaction with Israeli state.

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Image courtesy of "The Irish Times"

UN expresses alarm as Palestinian aid agency Unrwa banned from ... (The Irish Times)

Politicians who drafted law cite involvement of some Unrwa staffers in October 7th, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel, and on some staffers having ...

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

UNRWA banned from operating in Israel - as agency head warns ... (Sky News)

Under the new laws, passed in the Israeli parliament on Monday, the agency was banned from having ties to Israeli officials, its staff stripped of their ...

Statement by the Governments of Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and ... (Gov.ie)

The Governments of Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain condemn the approval by the Knesset of legislation to prevent UNRWA from operating in the Occupied ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

'Outrageous': Israeli parliament approves bill to ban UNRWA (Aljazeera.com)

The agency for Palestinian refugees, considered a lifeline for Gaza, has been under Israeli attacks since the war began.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Israel bans UN aid agency UNRWA from operating in Israel (Reuters)

Israel passed a law on Monday banning the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA from operating in the country, legislation that could impact its work in ...

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

Knesset approves laws barring UNRWA from Israel, limiting it in ... (The Times of Israel)

Bucking global pressure, MKs overwhelmingly back legislation against UN Palestinian refugee agency over staffers' terror links; PM's office: Ready to work ...

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Image courtesy of "RTE.ie"

Israeli ban on UNRWA may have 'devastating consequences' (RTE.ie)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the implementation of a law banning the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA from operating in ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Israel has banned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. That ... (CNN)

Israel has banned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. That could be devastating for millions. By Nadeen Ebrahim and Salma Arafa, CNN.

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Image courtesy of "The Irish Times"

What is Unrwa and why has Israel's parliament voted to ban it? (The Irish Times)

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees will be banned from operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

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Image courtesy of "Newstalk"

Ireland condemns ''disastrous and shameful' Israeli ban on UNRWA (Newstalk)

Ireland has joined three other European countries in condemning Israel's ban on UNRWA operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

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Image courtesy of "EJIL: Talk!"

The General Assembly Must Protect UNRWA by Requesting a ... (EJIL: Talk!)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, provides a lifeline ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Unrwa: Israel bans UN Palestinian refugee agency, raising Gaza aid ... (BBC News)

Israel passes two laws which Western governments fear could have devastating consequences for civilians in the Gaza Strip.

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Image courtesy of "thejournal.ie"

Tánaiste calls Israel's UNRWA ban 'collective punishment' of ... (thejournal.ie)

The Israeli parliament voted overwhelmingly yesterday to ban the agency from operating in Palestine, which is under Israeli occupation and includes the West ...

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Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

Israel bans UNRWA: The world reacts (POLITICO.eu)

The U.K. is “gravely concerned,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Fears for Gaza aid after Unrwa ban, as Guterres tells Israel 'there is ... (The Guardian)

Foreign ministers and aid organisations criticise Israel over vote to oust UN agency from operating in war-torn territory, with US saying it had an ...

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Image courtesy of "RTE.ie"

Harris urges EU review Israel trade ties over UNRWA ban (RTE.ie)

Follow developments live amid the fallout from Israeli parliament voting to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel, as dozens are killed in strikes in Gaza and ...

European governments condemn Israel legislation on UNRWA (UNRIC.org)

Many Western European leaders have expressed their worries about Monday's vote by the Israeli Knesset banning the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine ...

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Image courtesy of "UN News"

UNRWA cannot be replaced, say UN top officials in response to ... (UN News)

Top UN officials continued to line up on Tuesday to defend the irreplaceable role of the global body's agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, insisting that ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

What does UNRWA do and why has Israel banned it from West Bank ... (Aljazeera.com)

What are in the bills passed by Israel to ban the Palestinian refugee agency, and what services is it responsible for?

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