British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed the United Kingdom's grave concern over the recent vote in the Israeli Parliament that approved two laws prohibiting the activities of the UN refugee agency (UNRWA). According to Starmer, this decision jeopardizes the humanitarian response in Gaza. In this regard, he urged Israeli lawmakers to ensure that UNRWA can continue to carry out its essential work.
In an initial vote, the Knesset had banned UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory, including East Jerusalem. Subsequently, they greenlit a second law to restrict its operations in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza. This regulation prevents any public entity from having contact with the UN agency or its employees.
Starmer emphasized the urgency of an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a significant increase in aid to Gaza. He highlighted that Israel, under its international commitments, must ensure that aid reaches civilians in the Gaza Strip. In this context, he underscored that only UNRWA is capable of providing the necessary humanitarian assistance.
The Labour leader reminded of the 222 UNRWA employees who have lost their lives in the conflict, emphasizing the importance of the humanitarian work they carry out. Starmer reiterated the UK's concern over the laws passed by the Knesset and their impact on the humanitarian response in the region. UNRWA, as a UN agency, has a mandate to support Palestinian refugees by providing essential health and education services in the West Bank and Gaza.
