Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned a new Israeli law banning UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) operations in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, his spokesman said Wednesday.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Israeli move risks further "escalating" the unrest in the region by undermining the services the UN aid agency provides to some six million Palestinian refugees. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman for President Abbas, stated in a press release that Israel should be held accountable for any repercussions that might ensue from this decision.
In October 2024, Israel's parliament unanimously voted in favor of legislation aiming to impose a ban on the works of the UN agency aiding the Palestinians. The legislation has been criticized for potentially exacerbating tensions in the region, which is already fraught with conflict and humanitarian challenges.