Israel Bans UNRWA Amid Damage Claims
Philippe Lazzarini, who heads the UN Palestinian refugee agency, said on social media platform X that the office was severely damaged and was no longer usable.
The Israeli military, however, issued a statement denying responsibility for any damage to the building.
“The claim that the UNRWA offices in Nur Shams were destroyed by IDF soldiers is false,” the statement read, about Israel Defence Forces.
“Terrorists planted explosives in the proximity of the UNRWA offices that were then detonated in an attempt to harm IDF soldiers. The explosives likely caused damage to the structure,” the IDF statement said.
On Monday, Israel passed a law banning UNRWA from operating in the country, legislation that could impact its work in war-torn Gaza.
Israel shuts down UN Palestinian refugee agency as 60 dead in Lebanon attacks
The lawmakers who drafted the law cited what they described as the involvement of some UNRWA staffers in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and staffers having membership in Hamas and other armed groups.
The U.N., after an investigation, said in August that nine UNRWA staff were possibly involved in the Oct. 7 attacks and fired them. UNRWA says the overwhelming majority of its staff adheres to its principles of neutrality.
Lazzarini called the vote to ban UNRWA a “dangerous precedent” that opposes the U.N. charter and violates Israel’s obligation under international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said UNRWA workers “involved in terrorist activities” must be held accountable.
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