All articles tagged with #palestinian aid
Israeli registration rules for NGOs threaten to halt aid operations in Gaza, risking a collapse of essential healthcare and humanitarian services, with international agencies urging reconsideration due to potential catastrophic impacts on Palestinian civilians.
The International Court of Justice is set to issue an advisory opinion on Israel's legal obligations towards UN agencies and aid delivery in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, amid disputes over bans on UNRWA activities, aid restrictions, and Israel's security concerns, highlighting broader questions about international law and the functioning of UN institutions in conflict zones.
In a recent interview, President Joe Biden affirmed his identity as a Zionist while claiming to have done more for the Palestinian community than anyone else, emphasizing his efforts to facilitate aid to Gaza. He also reiterated his commitment to the 2024 presidential race despite concerns about his mental fitness following a poor debate performance.
The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian aid, UNRWA, is struggling to secure funding from Arab states, with only enough to last through May. This comes after the U.S. and other Western countries cut off aid due to allegations of UNRWA employees' involvement in a Hamas attack. UNRWA is facing allegations from Israel as well, and if it can't secure more funding, it may have to scale back its humanitarian activities in Gaza, impacting over a million people. Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are hesitant to donate until there is clarity on Gaza's political future, with Israel opposing Hamas' political control.
Israeli intelligence has accused 190 UNRWA staff in Gaza of being members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad, leading to multiple countries halting their funding to the Palestinian aid agency. The accusations include involvement in abductions, killings, and attacks, with names and pictures provided in a six-page dossier. UNRWA denies the allegations and is conducting an investigation, while warning that it may not be able to continue operations in Gaza and across the region beyond February if funding is not resumed. The United Nations has vowed to hold accountable any employees involved in "abhorrent" acts, but urges nations to continue funding UNRWA for humanitarian reasons.
The European Union faced backlash from member countries after announcing the suspension of aid to Palestinians in response to the recent attack on Israel by Hamas. EU countries criticized the bloc's executive for overstepping its authority and expressed concern about the impact on Palestinian civilians. Following the outcry, the EU backtracked on the announcement, stating that there would be no suspension of payments. The confusion highlighted longstanding divisions within the EU over the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Germany and Austria suspended their development aid, while other countries like Italy refused to discuss suspending aid. The EU is one of the main sources of aid to the Palestinian territories, where around 2.1 million people require humanitarian assistance.