Jordan has strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s decision to classify the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as a “terrorist organisation.”
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that the decision is “an attempt to kill the agency and politically assassinate its symbolic significance, which affirms the Palestinian refugees’ rights to return and compensation according to international law,” as reported by “Al-Mamlaka” channel.
The statement further noted that the ongoing Israeli claims and actions targeting UNRWA, aimed at nullifying its pivotal role in providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people under its UN mandate, “represent a blatant violation of international law and Israel’s obligations as the occupying power.”
On Monday, the Israeli Knesset passed the first reading of three bills aimed at shutting down UNRWA amidst a “wave of public outrage” in Israel against the UN agency following an attack on October 7 and the subsequent war on the Gaza Strip.
The three bills seek to prevent the UN organisation from operating on Israeli territory, strip its staff of immunities and privileges, and designate it as a terrorist organisation.
The Israeli Knesset voted on Monday to classify the UNRWA as a terrorist organisation, as the decision came during a preliminary vote on a legislative proposal aimed at officially designating the agency as such.
The Israeli government has alleged that certain employees of UNRWA were involved in the recent “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” attack.
However, these claims have been made without presenting substantial evidence to support them.
UNRWA, established in 1949, provides vital aid and services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East.
The agency has been a focal point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with criticisms and support often reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions in the region.
The Knesset’s move has sparked significant debate, both domestically and internationally.
