Amnesty International Australia condemns in the strongest terms the decision by Israel to ban the operation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) within Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The impact of Israel’s ban on UNWRA operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory will be utterly catastrophic for the people in Gaza, many of whom are already living on the brink of starvation.
“The Israeli government has effectively signed a death sentence for the civilians of Gaza who rely on UNWRA for food, water and access to medical aid. The human suffering that will result from Israel’s ban on UNWRA operations, and the cruelty behind this decision, is unfathomable,”
Kathryn Allan, Strategic Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia
“The Israeli government has effectively signed a death sentence for the civilians of Gaza who rely on UNWRA for food, water and access to medical aid. The human suffering that will result from Israel’s ban on UNWRA operations, and the cruelty behind this decision, is unfathomable,” says Kathryn Allan, Strategic Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia.
In a little over a year, Israel has already forcibly displaced nearly two million Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, cutting off critical humanitarian aid—including food, water, and essential supplies.
In January this year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take “immediate and effective measures” to protect Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip from the risk of genocide by ensuring sufficient humanitarian assistance and enabling basic services
Israel’s new laws effectively banning the operation of UNWRA in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is an obscene defiance of the ICJ orders and every member of the United Nations, including Australia, must demand the reversal of this decision and for Israel to comply with the Court’s orders.
UNWRA also provides schooling for children in Gaza, so this outrageous decision by the Israeli government will see a million children in Gaza cut off from education, disenfranchising an entire generation of Palestinians. The removal of education is also in breach of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Amnesty International Australia notes the Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s supports of a joint statement with the Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom expressing grave concern over the legislation before it was passed by the Israeli parliament, but insists that Australia must take tangible actions to apply pressure on Israel that goes beyond statements.
“Australia must continue to pressure Israel to allow the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and reiterate its call on Israel to support the lifesaving services provided by UNWRA in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Israel’s flagrant violations of international law have been allowed to go on for too long. The world, including Australia must recognise that ending Israel’s illegal occupation is a prerequisite to stopping the recurrent human rights violations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” says Kathryn Allan.
Amnesty International Australia reiterates its call on the Australian government to use its power as a member of the United Nations to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to apartheid, Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian Territory and for a comprehensive arms embargo on both Israel and Palestinian armed groups.
