Islam Times - Spain Expresses Deep Concern about Impacts of Israel’s UNRWA Ban

Islam Times - The Madrid government rejected the Israeli ban on the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), expressing deep concern about its impacts.

The ban, which took effect Thursday, prohibits UNRWA activity on what Israel’s supreme court calls “the sovereign territory of ... Israel.” That does not include Gaza and the West Bank but does apply to occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds.

UNRWA’s international staff at the East Jerusalem al-Quds office has already evacuated, according to the UN.

The Israeli law also bans contact between UNRWA staff and Israeli authorities. It is unclear how that could affect operations throughout the Palestinian territories.

“Spain expresses its deepest concern about the impact that this decision will have on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories, putting at risk the ceasefire,” said a statement issued by Spain’s Foreign Ministry.

Around midday Thursday, UNRWA posted to X, saying it continues to deliver assistance to the communities it serves and that its clinics continue to operate across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem al-Quds.

In East Jerusalem al-Quds, UNRWA offers health care to around 70,000 Palestinian refugees as well as education for around 1,000 students.

The UN agency added that it had not received any official communication on how the Israeli parliament’s bills banning UNRWA will be implemented.

However, it did warn that the Israeli ban “threatens life-saving aid, education, and health care.”

In its statement, Spain called UNRWA “essential” and “irreplaceable,” emphasizing the essential services it offers to 6 million Palestinian refugees.

Madrid “fully supports” the agency’s work and has recently announced it is increasing its financial aid to the organization.