Palestine condemns Israeli Knesset’s decision to ban UN Relief and Work Agency
By ESTHER ALEXANDER, Abuja-
The Palestine Embassy in Nigeria has denounced the Israeli Knesset’s vote to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip and a lifeline for millions of Palestine refugees across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
This decision has been widely condemned by humanitarian organizations and governments worldwide, with many calling the situation in the Gaza Strip a genocide.
The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, said.in a statement in Abuja, that the ban would effectively cut off essential services to millions of Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory, including healthcare, food assistance, education, and more ¹.
Ambassador Abu Shawesh said the situation in the Gaza Strip is already catastrophic, with the entire population facing famine-level starvation, constant bombardment, blockades, and limited access to fuel, electricity, and medical supplies.
He said: “On the 391st day of the US-Israeli heinous, malicious, and vindictive genocide, here are some statistical figures: The death toll has risen to 43,163, with 101,510 injured.
“As of October 30, for the 24th day in a row, the northern Gaza Strip has been completely cut off from the rest of the enclave, under a total siege with no access to humanitarian aid, medical assistance, supplies, water, and other basic necessities for life. This has led to nearly 1000 martyrs, tens of missing persons and thousands injured, in addition to hundreds of homes being completely razed.
“The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that more than 60,000 people have been displaced in northern Gaza in October alone.
“UNICEF estimates that at least 19,000 children have been separated from their families, forced to fend for themselves. Children are being medically evacuated from Gaza at a rate of fewer than one child per day. If this lethally slow pace continues, it would take more than seven years to evacuate the 2,500 children needing urgent medical care.
“As of October 28, the total number of arrests has reached 11,500 in the Occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem. This includes 430 women, 750 children, and 132 journalists, with 59 of them still under arrest, including 6 women journalists and 31 journalists from Gaza.
“More than 9,392 administrative detainees have been reported. 41 prisoners were martyred, and their bodies are still being held captive. In Gaza only, at least 232 UNRWA staff have been killed. Over 200 UNRWA premises have been damaged or destroyed.
The ambassador, further, said the staff, facilities, and installations of UNRWA—and all UN personnel—must be protected and never be targets for military aggression, while calling for immediate action to protect the humanitarian lifeline for Palestine refugees.