JAKARTA: Indonesia called on the UN Security Council on Tuesday to halt Israel’s ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, a move Jakarta says violates the world organization’s charter and immunity of its bodies.
On Monday evening, the Israeli parliament — the Knesset — passed two bills; one barring UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees from operating on territories occupied by Israel, and another banning Israeli authorities from any contact with the UN agency.
The bans, set to take effect in 90 days, are expected to severely restrict UNRWA from operating in the regions where it is supporting the Palestinian population in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza strip.
“This decision clearly violates and contradicts the UN Charter and the 1946 Convention on the immunities of UN agencies,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“Indonesia urges the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to immediately halt Israel’s actions and ensure its compliance with obligations under international law, UN Security Council resolutions, and the ICJ (International Court of Justice) rulings to end the occupation in Palestine.”
In July, the ICJ ruled that Israel’s occupation of the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and should come to an end “as rapidly as possible.”
Indonesia has been increasing its contributions to UNRWA since Israel’s war on Gaza escalated last October.
“UNRWA is an agency mandated by the United Nations to serve an irreplaceable role in providing education, healthcare, and aid to millions of Palestinian refugees. Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting UNRWA in discharging its mandate,” the ministry said.
UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949, originally to support 700,000 Palestinians who were forced from their homes during the creation of Israel.
Today, it serves some 5.9 million people and operates in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, with contributions from UN member states.
Since Israel escalated its attacks on Gaza more than a year ago, nearly all Palestinians in the area have relied on UNRWA for basic necessities.
This includes reliance on food, water and hygiene supplies, while almost half of the enclave’s 2.2 million population have been sheltered in the UN agency’s schools, clinics and public facilities.
Israeli forces have killed at least 233 UNRWA staff in the year-long war, during which Tel Aviv launched an intense campaign to delegitimize the UN body.
This includes accusing UNRWA employees of association with the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, which earlier this year had led to some countries, including the US, suspending funding for the agency.
Most nations have since restored their contributions, with the exception of Washington, its biggest donor.
Monday’s vote by the Israeli parliament “sets a dangerous precedent,” said UNRWA head, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.
He wrote on X that it “will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians, especially in Gaza where people have been going through more than a year of sheer hell.”
Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on Gaza have killed over 43,000 Palestinians and injured more than 101,000. The real death toll is suspected to be much higher, with estimates published by medical journal The Lancet indicating that, as of July, it could be more than 186,000.
“Failing to push back these bills will weaken our common multilateral mechanism established after World War 2,” Lazzarini said. “This should be a concern to all.”
