UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "deeply concerned" by Israel's ban on the UN's Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) in the Middle East and believes it could have "devastating consequences", it said. In a statement released by the UN Secretary-General: "UNRWA is the main vehicle through which critical aid reaches Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. There is no alternative to UNRWA.
The application of such laws could have devastating consequences for Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is unacceptable," the Secretary-General said in a statement.
"I call on Israel to act in accordance with its obligations under the United Nations Charter and other obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law... National legislation cannot change these obligations," Guterres added. In his opinion, UNRWA- the ban on its activities will harm the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the peace and security of the region. In turn, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told The Times of Israel that Washington is deeply concerned about the law passed by the Knesset on October 28, which aims to Against UNRWA. He noted that the implementation of this law could be disastrous for more than 3 million Palestinians."
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also condemned Israel's decision. According to the law passed by the Knesset, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees will be prohibited from carrying out "any activities" or providing any services on Israeli territory. Israeli authorities are prohibited from having any contact with UNRWA.
