PSNA Newsletter No 139 - June 5 2024

5 Pipiri 2024

5 June 2024

Newsletter No 139

Kia ora koutou,

Christopher Luxon – double the funding to UNRWA and release the funds immediately!

The government will shortly make an announcement on their decision whether or not they will continue to fund the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians)

Previously the government joined other western countries in suspending funding for UNRWA on the basis of Israeli claims 12 UNRWA staff (from a staff of over 10,000) were involved in the October 7th attack on Israel.

It’s very important to note the Israeli claims were publicised in the hours following the finding of the International Court of Justice that South Africa had presented a plausible case that Israel was committing genocide. Almost immediately afterwards Israel released its accusations against UNRWA staff. The distraction was spectacularly successful. Western media fell over themselves to highlight the report and bury the ICJ findings, with most western countries, New Zealand included, stopping or suspending funding for the UN agency. It was pure propaganda, lapped up by our media and politicians.

Needless to say an independent investigation out last week reports Israel has failed to support its claims about UNRWA staff involved in the October 7 attacks. It doesn’t need forensic analysis to tell us that Israel released this fact-free report to divert attention from their plausible war crimes which have now killed over 34,000 Palestinians – the majority being women and children.

New Zealand usually gives $1 million per year to UNRWA and the Prime Minister has made much of the fact the government has given much higher amounts to other organisations involved in supporting Gazans. However, the bald fact is that only UNRWA has the structure and networks on the ground in Gaza to deliver aid to the entire strip efficiently and effectively. Funding other organisations just doesn’t cut the mustard. It’s a government public relations stunt to “look busy” while it lines up its policy more closely with what the US/Israel want.

We have asked the government to double its funding to UNRWA and bring the funding forward.

Meanwhile in early May the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the pro-Israel lobby which has been campaigning vociferously for the end to UNRWA funding.

So why does the pro-Israel lobby want to finish of UNRWA? Because Israel wants to weaken Palestinian claims to refugee status and therefore their rights to return to their land and homes in Palestine from which they were expelled in the 1947 – 1949 Nakba.

Here is more background from Palestine’s BADIL resource centre:

Watch the full interview with Will here

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Q & A on the Israeli-led campaign against UNRWA from BADIL

Badil has produced this excellent brochure which we are reprinting here in full. The pro-Israel lobby here has worked feverishly to undermine and discredit UNRWA as part of a concerted international campaign. Why do they do this? Badil provided the answers.

You can download the brochure here

1. What is UNRWA?

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a UN agency, mandated by UNGA Resolution 302 of 1949 to respond to the forced displacement of at least 800,000 Palestinians.

2. What does UNRWA do?

While UNRWA experiences chronic financial deficits, it aims to provide 3 core services - education, health care, and social services - to 5.9 million registered Palestine refugees. The quality and quantity of these services have suffered greatly due to Israel’s ongoing attacks and campaign against the Agency.

3. Why was UNRWA established?

The international community created UNRWA to meet its obligations under international law, namely, to provide aid and services in order to ensure the basic needs and rights for at least 800,000 Palestinians who were forcibly displaced and transferred during the Nakba (1947-1949).

4. What are the limitations of UNRWA’s mandate?

Protection - providing humanitarian aid, assistance and basic services, the bare minimum of international protection owed to Palestinian refugees. It is not mandated to provide durable solutions (legal protection), or security and safety (physical protection).

Funding mechanism - voluntary so it depends on the goodwill of states and the political climate.
Geographic scope - areas of operation are limited to the West Bank including East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
Duration - its mandate is temporary and must be renewed every 3 years by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Refugee Definition - is limited and based on a need for humanitarian assistance, rather than on fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social affiliation as provided by the internationally recognized definition of refugee. © (UNRWA.org) –

5. When can UNRWA be dismantled?

UNRWA’s mandate is tied to the implementation of UNGA Resolution 194, which includes the right of displaced Palestinians to return, property restitution, and compensation. The revision or cessation of its mandate is the sole authority of the UNGA. Yes, supporting, funding, and enabling the operation of UNRWA is the responsibility of the international community until Palestinian refugees’ right to reparations, including return, property restitution and compensation is achieved.

7. What is the aim of Israel’s ongoing campaign against UNRWA?

To eliminate UNRWA, and with it, erasing Palestinian refugees and their right of return.

8. What are the components of Israel’s campaign against UNRWA? |

• Demonization and delegitimization
• Transferring UNRWA and its services to host countries and other international organizations
• Defunding UNRWA • Obstructing its operations and the provision of its services
A protest in front of UN High Commissioner’s Office, Ramallah, 2023: © (BADIL) A protest against the reductions in UNRWA’s services, The Gaza Strip, 2018 Source: (alresalah.ps) -3- 9.

9. How has Israel obstructed UNRWA’s work in the Gaza Strip?

Destroying hundreds of its facilities in Gaza

Demonizing the Agency through false allegations of supporting “terrorism” and “antisemitism” for which no evidence has been presented
Forcing UNRWA to abandon its facilities in the north and center of the Gaza Strip
Calling for its defunding and replacement with other entities
Killing hundreds of its staff in Gaza

10. How do governments aid Israel’s campaign against UNRWA?

By defunding UNRWA • By imposing funding conditions transforming UNRWA into a security agency
By transferring its tasks to governments or other agencies and organizations
By weaponizing aid to Gaza
|By replacing the efficient, effective and preferred land crossings for the passage of aid with airdrops and the maritime corridor
By replacing UNRWA’s responsibility under the UN to subject it to the direction of Israel and its allies

11. Is defunding UNRWA during the Israeli Genocidal War complicity in Genocide?

Yes, suspending UNRWA funds:
Violates states’ non-negotiable obligations to prevent and stop genocide
Contradicts the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) order on provisional measures
Weaponizes humanitarian aid
Obstructs UNRWA’s ability to provide lifesaving aid and assistance in the Gaza Strip
Constitutes collective punishment of the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. –

12. What consequences do Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face as a result of the Israeli campaign against UNRWA?

300,000 students enrolled in 188 UNRWA schools deprived of their education
3.4 million patients annually, serviced by 22 facilities, denied access to health care
98,935 Palestinians denied access to relief and social services
1 million Palestinians denied access to emergency food assistance
3,000 UNRWA employees faced with unemployment

13. What is the impact of eliminating UNRWA now?

Escalation of the genocide in the Gaza Strip
5.9 million Palestine refugees in 58 registered camps in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan will not receive the humanitarian aid and services they are entitled to.
706 schools, 140 primary health care facilities and 113 community centers in the Agency’s areas of operation will be shut down

14. Findings of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality

Israel has yet to provide evidence supporting its allegations against UNRWA • Confirmed that UNRWA “possesses a more developed approach to neutrality than other similar UN or NGO entities.”
“UNRWA remains pivotal in providing life-saving humanitarian aid and essential social services” • “UNRWA is irreplaceable and indispensable to Palestinians’ human and economic development”

Source:
Palestine Centre for Residency and Refugee Rights (https://www.badil.org/)

Pictures:
Miscellaneous sources

The latest ICJ ruling

Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip

(South Africa v. Israel)

24 MAY 2024

ORDER

THE HAGUE, 24 May 2024. The International Court of Justice today delivered its Order on the request for the modification and the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa on 10 May 2024 in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

In its Order, the Court:

(1) By thirteen votes to two,

Reaffirms the provisional measures indicated in its Orders of 26 January 2024 and 28 March 2024, which should be immediately and effectively implemented;