US expresses “concern” before Security Council over Israeli legislation banning UNRWA

MADRID 29 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United States representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has expressed to the United Nations Security Council “deep concern” about the legislation approved by the Israeli Parliament that prohibits the activities of the UN Refugee Agency in Palestine in the Middle East (UNRWA).

“At this time there is no alternative to UNRWA when it comes to delivering food and other vital aid to Gaza. Therefore, we are concerned that this legislation will be implemented,” he said, adding that instead of confronting each other, Israel and the UN ” “They should talk to each other.”

In this sense, he has assured that it is essential to “rebuild trust” in the mission and in the “hundreds of workers” who are not associated with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) after UNRWA itself confirmed “that among its personnel there were some Hamas members.”

“We call on the Secretary-General (UN António Guterres) to create a mechanism to examine and address allegations that UNRWA personnel have links to Hamas and other terrorist groups,” he added.

The bill approved the day before by the Knesset prohibits the agency from operating both in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territories by revoking a 1967 text that served as the basis for its activities. In March, Israel accused a significant number of UNRWA workers of being part of “terrorist groups,” which led about fifteen countries to freeze funds, suddenly depriving it of $450 million and calling into question the continuity of its operations. its operations.