European governments condemn Israel legislation on UNRWA

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 Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Following is an overview:

EUROPEAN UNION: The EU has exhorted the Israeli authorities to ensure that UNRWA can continue its essential work in crisis-affected areas in line with its UN General Assembly mandate.

“We urge Israeli authorities to reconsider, in order to prevent disruptions to UNRWA’s life-saving services and ensure continued and unhindered humanitarian access for UNRWA to the Palestine refugees that it was set up to serve.

The EU remains committed to supporting UNRWA and its mission, while maintaining neutrality, accountability, and oversight in its partnership.”

UK: Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement that the UK is gravely concerned at the UNRWA bills that Israel’s Knesset has passed. “This legislation risks making UNRWA‘s essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank….Only UNRWA can deliver humanitarian aid at the scale and pace needed…We urge Israeli lawmakers to ensure that UNRWA can continue to deliver its essential work.”

France: The French Ministry of Foreign affairs has deplored in a statement the adoption of the legislation. “The implementation of these laws would not only have very serious consequences on the already catastophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, but also in the entire occupied Palestinian territories. Thousands of civilians will be deprived of essential aid in the form of shelter, health, education and food. France reitirates its support of UNRWA and will continue to make sure necessary reforms are made to ensure its neutrality. “

Belgium:  In a press release the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has underlined Israel’s violation of international law, which “profoundly undermines the multilateral system and the United Nations itself.”

“As long as there is no global, just and lasting solution to the conflict and to the status of Palestinian refugees, UNRWA’s mandate is vital, as it represents the UN’s responsibility towards the question of Palestine. (…) Achieving a two-state solution (…) is the only way to put an end to the violence and intolerable suffering of civilian populations.”

The Governments of Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain condemn the approval by the Knesset of legislation to prevent UNRWA from operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. “The work of the Agency is essential and irreplaceable for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region, and particularly in the current context in Gaza. The legislation approved by the Knesset sets a very serious precedent for the work of the United Nations and for all organizations of the multilateral system.

Norway: Norwegian officials have also seperately condemned the legislation. “This is a very serious decision, which will have dramatic consequences for hundreds of thousands of civilians,” says Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. 

Denmark: The Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said in a statement that the value of UN Charter and the institutions it underpins must never be forgotten. “This decision is deeply troubling for many reasons – with potential dire impacts on the human rights of those depending on UNRWA’s assistance.”

Sweden: Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard described the decision as a human disaster.

“There are many indications that it will be even more difficult to get humanitarian aid into Gaza”, she told Swedish Television.  “Within the EU, we must raise this issue in order to influence.”

Portugal: The Portuguese government condemned the legislation, pointing out that “UNRWA’s essential humanitarian aid services remain in question”. On social network X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that “Portugal condemns the approval of legislation by the Knesset [Israeli Parliament] that revokes the privileges and immunities of UNRWA, making action in Gaza and the West Bank unfeasible.”

Germany: The German Foreign Ministry Human Rights Commissioner has criticized the Knesset motions and argued that this would render it impossible to deliver humanitarian aid.

Iceland: The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs said in a Tweet that “Iceland condemns the Knesset legislation which will prevent UNRWA from operating in the OPT and set a dangerous precedent for the multilateral system. UNRWA is part of the UN and its life-saving work is central to millions of Palestinian refugees, incl. in Gaza.”

Luxembourg:  Xavier Bettel Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has deplored Israel’s unilateral decision: “Without UNRWA, there is no education, there is no health, there is no food’.

“In a few hours’ time I will be travelling to Israel, and tomorrow to Palestine, where I will meet the Speaker of the Knesset and the Israeli and Palestinian Foreign Ministers. I will also be visiting UNRWA. We will continue to support this organisation because there is no alternative.”

More information:

Letter from UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini to the President of the United Nations General Assembly Mr Philémon Yang

The UN and the crisis in Gaza: What you need to know