Israel’s parliament has voted to ban the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, accusing the agency’s employees of being involved in terrorist activities. The decision comes after a U.N. investigation found some employees may have been linked to a terror attack against Israel. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that contracts with these employees would be terminated. The ban on UNRWA comes following a warning from the Biden administration that military aid to Israel may be restricted if humanitarian assistance in Gaza is not increased. The State Department has expressed deep concerns about the ban, emphasizing that there is currently no replacement for UNRWA in providing aid to Palestinian refugees. UNRWA has been criticized by some in Israel for perpetuating a false narrative that Palestinians are refugees. Foreign ministers from several countries have expressed concern over the ban, while Irish deputy prime minister Michael Martin and other governments have condemned the decision. Israeli parliament members who support the ban argue that UNRWA’s work has been counterproductive in the region. The tensions between Israel and UNRWA have escalated, with Netanyahu accusing the U.N. of being antisemitic and banning the U.N. Secretary-General from entering Israel. The situation is further complicated by the ongoing conflict between Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with accusations of attacks on U.N. peacekeepers.
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