TEL AVIV: Israel officially informed the UN on Sunday of its decision to withdraw from an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), citing “security concerns.” The decision marks a significant shift in Israel’s approach to international collaborations concerning Palestinian refugees.
According to Anadolu Agency, the withdrawal pertains to the 1967 agreement regarding UNRWA’s operations in aid of Palestinian refugees. The Israeli government has indicated that this withdrawal will be implemented after a three-month transition period. Despite this move, Israel reassured that it would continue to work with international partners, including other UN agencies, to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry underscored the necessity of maintaining national security, emphasizing that the delivery of aid should not jeopardize the safety of the region. The ministry’s statement expressed an expectation for the United
Nations to align its humanitarian efforts with regional security requirements. This sentiment was echoed in a letter addressed to UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang and copied to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, expressed his views on social media platform X, highlighting Israel’s concerns regarding Hamas’ infiltration of UNRWA. He criticized the UN’s inaction despite evidence presented by Israel and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to cooperating with humanitarian organizations that do not support terrorism.