Belgium condemns Israel over effort to brand UNRWA 'terrorist group'

Belgium has condemned the Israeli parliament for its effort to brand the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, as a "terrorist group." 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Hadja Lahbib, condemned the Israeli parliament's attempts in a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday. 

Read more: Belgian police break up pro-Palestinian demonstration outside Israeli embassy

Lahbib denounced the efforts by the Israeli Knesset to brand the UNRWA a "terrorist group" and strip the UN organization's staff of immunity, insisting the work done by the outfit was "essential" for the Palestinians "in the face of the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza."
 

Belgium condemns the Israeli parliament's attempts to classify UNWRA as a terrorist organization and to remove the immunity of its staff.

UNWRA's activities are essential for the Palestinians in the face of the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) June 1, 2024

“Belgium condemns the Israeli parliament's attempts to classify UNWRA as a terrorist organization and to remove the immunity of its staff,” she said on X.

Read more: Amid Rafah carnage, Israel moves to designate UNRWA as ‘terror organization’

In related news, the EU's foreign policy chief voiced "deep concern" over the ongoing effort to label the UNRWA a "terrorist group" by the Israeli regime.

"The European Union is deeply concerned about discussions in the Israeli Knesset on designating UNRWA as a terrorist organization, and removing its staff’s immunities and privileges," Josep Borrell, the EU top diplomat said in a statement.

The EU is also concerned that the Israeli Land Authority ordered UNRWA to vacate its East al-Quds [Jerusalem] premises within the next 30 days.

"The EU condemns any attempts to label a UN agency as a terrorist organization. We recall the crucial and irreplaceable role of UNRWA in the humanitarian response in Gaza. UNRWA provides vital services to millions of people in Gaza, the West Bank, as well as across the region, including in Lebanon and Jordan," it said.

Borrell insisted that the member states of the EU bloc firmly supported the UN organization.

He stated, "The EU is a strong supporter to the Agency, and remains, with its Member States, its biggest donor. We are committed to continuing our support, also in view of UNRWA’s implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group report."

In the meantime, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations highest court, has ordered Israel to stop its genocidal war on Gaza and halt its offensive in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah.

World court orders Israel to 'immediately halt' Rafah offensive

The International Court of Justice, the top United Nations court, has ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah.

UNRWA was established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to provide relief to Palestinian refugees. Due to decades-long atrocities against Palestinians by the Israeli regime, UNRWA's mandate has been continuously renewed every three years since then.

Nearly 36,300 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, since Israel launched the war on Gaza early in October.

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