“How will we survive?” Concerns in Gaza over food aid as Israel tries to ban Unruah

Fergal Keane
BBC News Special Correspondent

A senior ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the BBC the government in Jerusalem would not back down from the decision. decision to expel a major UN agency working with Palestinian refugees.

Boaz Bismuth sponsored a bill in the Israeli parliament that would ban Unrwa from operating in Israel and prohibit Israeli officials from having any contact with the agency.

When I asked Bismuth whether Israel would bow to international pressure to withdraw the bill, he replied: “Of course not, of course not, because we believe in our bill and because it is a fair and correct bill.”

The US, EU and British government condemned the move. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Unrwa plays an “indispensable role now in the Gaza Strip, where they are on the front lines providing humanitarian assistance to people who need it.”

“There is no one who can replace them right now, in the midst of a crisis.”

Unrwa said the laws, which will come into force within three months, will lead to a “collapse” of the aid supply chain in Gaza.

Israel accused Unruh of infiltrating Hamas and some of its members of participating in the October 7 attacks on Israel.

Bismuth said that Israel will improve the quality of services for Palestinian refugees after the liquidation of Unrwa.

“You don’t need terrorism to control the Gaza Strip,” he said. “You don’t need terrorism to control humanitarian aid either. The time has come if you really want stability, if you really want security, if you really want peace in the Middle East. First of all, let’s get rid of the evil forces.” “