Nordic Countries ‘Deeply Concerned’ about Israeli Legislation That Would Bar UNRWA from Operating

 A man works to remove an UNRWA-labelled vehicle after it was hit in an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian officials, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, October 23, 2024. (Reuters)
A man works to remove an UNRWA-labelled vehicle after it was hit in an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian officials, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, October 23, 2024. (Reuters)
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Nordic Countries ‘Deeply Concerned’ about Israeli Legislation That Would Bar UNRWA from Operating

 A man works to remove an UNRWA-labelled vehicle after it was hit in an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian officials, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, October 23, 2024. (Reuters)
A man works to remove an UNRWA-labelled vehicle after it was hit in an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian officials, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, October 23, 2024. (Reuters)

The five Nordic countries said Wednesday that they are “deeply concerned by the recent introduction of draft legal bills in the Knesset that, if adopted, would prevent the UNRWA from continuing its operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.”

In a joint letter signed by the region’s foreign ministers, they said that if the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees “would no longer be able to exercise its core tasks” it could further destabilize the situation in the region, "and may fundamentally jeopardize the prospects for a two-state solution.”

In the letter, they “strongly urge Israel to ensure continued and unhindered humanitarian access” to Palestinian refugees for the UN body known as UNRWA.



Pro-Palestinian Protest Prompts Scuffle onstage at Royal Opera House in London

A detained demonstrator sits inside a police van, following a protest in support of the Palestine Action group in Parliament Square in London, Britain, July 19, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
A detained demonstrator sits inside a police van, following a protest in support of the Palestine Action group in Parliament Square in London, Britain, July 19, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
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Pro-Palestinian Protest Prompts Scuffle onstage at Royal Opera House in London

A detained demonstrator sits inside a police van, following a protest in support of the Palestine Action group in Parliament Square in London, Britain, July 19, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
A detained demonstrator sits inside a police van, following a protest in support of the Palestine Action group in Parliament Square in London, Britain, July 19, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

A performer holding a Palestinian flag touched off a brief scuffle on stage at the Royal Opera House in London on Saturday night as cast members were taking their bows following the season's final performance of “Il Trovatore.”

Images posted on social media show what appears to be a member of the chorus holding the unfurled flag in front of his chest while the lead singers bask in the audience's applause, Reuters reported.

After a few moments, someone backstage attempts to grab the flag, but the performer holds onto the banner and snaps back into place.

Singers were taking their bows after the end of the opera by Giuseppe Verdi. Director Adele Thomas’ production reinterprets the story of desire and an all-consuming curse, the opera said.

"The display of the flag was spontaneous and unauthorized action by the artist,'' the opera company told the BBC.

"It was not approved by the Royal Ballet & Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality.”