A group of major western and Asian nations has expressed “grave concern” over draft Israeli legislation that would severely restrict the ability of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees to operate in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The bill would ban UNRWA from Israel and is expected to be debated in the Knesset after the parliament reopens for its winter session on Monday. Israeli media has reported it is likely to be passed.
The foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany, as well as Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea, said on Sunday any move to restrict UNRWA’s work would have “devastating consequences on an already critical and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation”.