Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The right-wing groups in the EU Parliament barred a proposal to discuss Israel’s recent decision to ban the UN Agency (UNRWA).
According to the Left group in the European Parliament, the proposal to debate Israel’s ban on UNRWA was denied by 353 votes against and 201 votes in acceptance. The barred debate was set to take place in a plenary session planned for 13-14 November in Brussels.
The official account of the Left in the European Parliament stated that right-wing forces in the European Parliament blocked their proposal to discuss recent Knesset decisions affecting UNRWA’s work in Gaza. According to the statement, this move undermines essential UN operations, weakens multilateral peace efforts, sidelines human rights, and encourages unilateral aggression in Gaza.
The Left in the European Parliament further posted on X: “The decision of Israel to ban the UN agency is a disservice to peace and multilateralism, and once again violates international law. This undermines vital UN operations & weakens multilateral efforts for peace, sidelining human rights & emboldening unilateral aggression on Gaza.”
There is no alternative to UNRWA.
— The Left in the European Parliament (@Left_EU) November 13, 2024
The decision of Israel to ban the UN agency is a disservice to peace, multilateralism, and once again violates international law.
Now more than ever it is key to continue talking about Palestine.
Unfortunately they don't think so 👇 pic.twitter.com/2OvdJx0Qyv
What is the significance of Israel labelling UNRWA a “terrorist” group?
On 28 Oct 2024, the Israeli Knesset officially enacted legislation banning UNRWA’s movements in Israel and labelled it a “terrorist” organisation. The Knesset plenum endorsed in its final reading, a law prohibiting the activity of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) inside Israel.
The rule aims to “prevent any UNRWA activity in the domain of the State of Israel,” and stipulates that “UNRWA will not employ any representative office, will not deliver any service, and will not carry out any move, directly or indirectly, in the territory of the State of Israel, the sovereign territory of the State of Israel.”
Moreover, Israel has long lobbied to have UNRWA shut down as it is the only UN agency to have a straightforward mandate to look after the basic requirements of Palestinian refugees. If the agency no longer works, argues Israel, then the refugee issue must no longer exist, and the honest right for Palestinian refugees to return to their land will be unnecessary. Israel has rejected that right of return since the late 1940s, even though its membership in the UN was made dependent upon Palestinian refugees being allowed to return to thei
