Israel tells UN to shut down all UNRWA operations in Jerusalem: ‘acute security risks’
Israeli ambassador to United NationsDanny Danon, officially informed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of Israel’s request that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) cease its operations in Jerusalem and evacuate its premises by January 30, 2025.
The directive follows recent legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset that terminated Israel’s agreements with UNRWA and cited national security concerns.
In a letter to Guterres, Danon outlined the rationale for the decision, highlighting the “acute national security risks posed by the widespread infiltration of UNRWA by Hamas and other terrorist organizations.” He also accused the agency of failing to address Israel’s long-standing concerns and irreparably compromising its “fundamental commitment to impartiality and neutrality.”
A UN vehicle enters the UNRWA offices in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS)
President Donald Trumphe was also a vocal critic of UNRWA, denial of funding for that during his first term as president. The United States was previously UNRWA’s largest donor, contributing more than $350 million annually. In March, Congress agreed to cut funding for the controversial agency for one year.
A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General told Fox News Digital: “The Secretary-General has been clear about the need to maintain support for UNRWA, which is the backbone of UN operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Danon’s letter stated that “months of good faith engagement” with the United Nations had yielded no results, accusing UNRWA of abusing its immunity to circumvent local laws and regulations. He emphasized Israel’s legal position, asserting that “no country is obliged to aid and cooperate with an entity that undermines its national security.”
IDF and ISA eliminated Hamas terrorist, Nukhba commander, Mohammad Abu Itiwi. He was involved in the killing and kidnapping of Israeli civilians on October 7. According to the Israelis, Itiwi worked for UNRWA. (IDF Spokesperson Unit)
Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute for Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital that Israel’s move is a long time coming. “UNRWA is a cash cow for the United Nations and also for Palestinian so-called refugees who—unlike refugees everywhere in the world—supposedly inherit their refugee status as long as the Jews are still there. UNRWA schools have taught generations of Palestinians to hate their neighbors Jews and to spend their lives seeking the destruction of Israel instead of living in peace.”
NEW REPORTS CLAIM UNRWA WORKS WITH TERRORISTS, LEARNS TO HATE WHEN AGENCY HITS BACK AT CRITICS
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon speaks to the media before the United Nations Security Council meeting, following a ballistic missile attack on Israel, at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., October 2, 2024. REUTERS/Stephani Spindel
The law passed by the Israeli Knesset includes two complementary bills that cut all ties between Israel and UNRWA, including the termination of diplomatic visas and services provided to the agency. The proposed laws received great support from both coalition and opposition members of the Knesset.
Critics of the legislation, including the Biden administrationthey warned that this could create a humanitarian crisis for millions of Palestinians who rely on UNRWA for education, health care and basic services.
During a UN press briefing on Friday, a spokesman responded to questions about the situation, saying: “We are in contact, but we have continued to emphasize the irreplaceability of UNRWA.” Asked about contingency plans should the Israeli legislation be implemented, the spokesman said: “We’ll see what the future brings. Obviously, we’re doing our best and UNRWA will do everything it can to continue to help people under our mandate as much as we can .”
Photos released by the Israel Defense Forces show three people the Israeli military says are Hamas terrorists inside the UNRWA compound in Rafah. (IDF)
Before the Israeli letter was published, spokeswoman for UNRWA previously told Fox News Digital that they have no plan for ongoing operations once the ban begins.
The spokesperson asserted that “UNRWA has the strongest systems in place compared to other United Nations agencies when it comes to respecting the principle of neutrality with respect to our programs that we operate and our staff.”
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In August, UNRWA High Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini confirmed the likely involvement of UNRWA employees in the October 7 massacre. He later confirmed that at least nine UNRWA staff had been dismissed following an internal investigation.
Danon called on the United Nations to “stop the unprecedented infiltration and abuse of UN organs by terrorist organizations” in order to restore the UN’s credibility.
