Shtayyeh : ‘UNRWA Crisis’ Aligns with Israel’s Plan for Palestinian Displacement

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (photo credit: ABBAS MOMANI/POOL VIA REUTERS)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (photo credit: ABBAS MOMANI/POOL VIA REUTERS)
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Shtayyeh : ‘UNRWA Crisis’ Aligns with Israel’s Plan for Palestinian Displacement

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (photo credit: ABBAS MOMANI/POOL VIA REUTERS)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (photo credit: ABBAS MOMANI/POOL VIA REUTERS)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called on countries that announced their temporary freeze of new financial assistance for the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) to revert their decision.
Shayyeh added that the suspension of funds to UNRWA coincides with Israel’s plan to displace the people in Gaza, indicating that this suspension comes during challenging times and at a time when the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to allow aid to enter Gaza immediately.
During a press conference in Ramallah on Sunday, Shtayyeh noted that the countries that have announced freezing funding for UNRWA contribute about 70% of the agency’s budget, which in turn contributes to the relief of about 1.7 million people in the Gaza Strip.
On his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appealed to the countries that suspended funding to UNRWA to reconsider their decisions, to ensure continuity of its vital humanitarian operations.
Several nations, including the US, have halted donations to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees amid accusations by Israel that several UNRWA staff were involved in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas members.
Over two million civilians in the Gaza Strip depend on lifesaving aid provided by UNRWA.
Israel has not disclosed details of the accusations leveled against UNRWA staffers, as confirmed by the UN.
UNRWA stated that it is currently investigating the matter.
The Palestinian Presidency also issued a statement on Sunday expressing its rejection of the campaign led by the Israeli government against UNRWA.
In a statement, the Palestinian Presidency described the campaign against UNRWA as unjust and aimed at liquidating the issue of Palestinian refugees.
The Palestinian Presidency stated that this contradicts UN Resolution 302, under which UNRWA was established on Dec. 18, 1949, and other UN resolutions related to the issue of refugees.
The Palestinian Presidency called on the countries that took a stance against UNRWA before the completion of the investigation into the allegations against it to reconsider these positions.
Such positions, if maintained, would unjustly punish millions of Palestinians, especially those who were displaced from their land in 1948.
Tel Aviv continues to commit crimes against them, including the recent genocide in the Gaza Strip, the statement read.



Series of Israeli Airstrikes Hit Central Beirut, At Least 1 Building Destroyed

Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Series of Israeli Airstrikes Hit Central Beirut, At Least 1 Building Destroyed

Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Powerful Israeli airstrikes targeted central Beirut on Saturday, resulting in a large number of fatalities and injuries and destroying an eight-story building, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

Footage broadcast by TV stations showed at least one destroyed building and several others badly damaged around it in the Basta neighborhood.

Israel used bunker buster bombs in the strike, leaving a deep crater, said NNA. Beirut smelled strongly of explosives hours after the attack.
The blasts shook the capital around 4 a.m.

NNA said at least five bombs were dropped in the attack.
It marked the fourth Israeli airstrike this week targeting a central area of Beirut, where the bulk of Israel's attacks have targeted the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

On Sunday an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah's media relations chief Mohammad Afif in the Ras al-Nabaa district of central Beirut.

The Israeli military did not issue a warning for Basta's residents to evacuate prior to the strike and did not immediately issue a statement on it.

Israel has killed several Hezbollah leaders in airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Meanwhile, heavy ground fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants was ongoing in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops have pushed farther from the border.