Brussels, [29.10.2024] – The International Federation for Rights and Development (IFRD) unequivocally condemns the recent passage of legislation by the Israeli Knesset, which forbids Israeli state entities from engaging with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This unprecedented act marks Israel as the first state in history to formally outlaw contact with a UN agency, a direct affront to international cooperation and the foundations of global diplomacy.
UNRWA plays a vital role in addressing the humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees, providing essential services such as education, healthcare, and emergency relief to millions who continue to face challenges stemming from displacement and conflict. This new law not only endangers these crucial services but represents a significant blow to the internationally upheld principles of humanitarian neutrality and cooperation.
The IFRD stresses that targeting a UN agency as essential as UNRWA is an attack not only on Palestinians but on the core values of the United Nations itself. This move exemplifies a blatant disregard for international consensus and diplomatic standards, undermining the efforts of countless UN entities that strive to maintain peace, security, and human rights across the globe.
This new law sends a troubling message to the international community. By isolating itself from cooperative dialogue and humanitarian responsibility, Israel is crossing red lines that threaten to destabilize the established world order. This is not merely a matter of national policy; it is an affront to the shared global commitment to peace and stability.
IFRD calls on the global community to recognize this act as an alarming signal. Israel’s rejection of UNRWA and defiance of UN authority are steps toward rebellion against the international framework that upholds world peace and order. This law must be seen for what it is: a direct challenge to the mechanisms that promote global security and a blatant disregard for the international human rights system.
The IFRD urges world leaders, human rights organizations, and the UN itself to condemn this law and uphold the principles of international solidarity and cooperation that form the bedrock of a peaceful and just world.
Contact:
IFRD Media Relations
Kaye Van Loon
Website: www.IFRD.be
info@ifrd.be
