“UNRWA is irreplaceable. Israel must respect international humanitarian law”, declared the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Hadja Lahbib, on Friday 31 January, on the first day of application of the Israeli law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Israel (see EUROPE 13559/2).
On X, Ms Lahbib said that the humanitarian aid and basic services provided by UNRWA were “vital for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza and [the] broader [Middle East] region”.
The same day, in a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Germany, France and the United Kingdom reiterated their “grave concern” about the implementation of the Israeli legislation. They called on Israel to “respect its international obligations” and to “live up to its responsibility to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance and the provision of basic services to the civilian population”.
To see the letter from the three countries, go to https://aeur.eu/f/fbl (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)