In a standard world, it’s Israel that ought to be punished for killing so many members of a humanitarian group.(150 UNRWA staffers killed thus far) However nope, it’s the humanitarian group that’s getting punished, alongside the very susceptible inhabitants it’s dedicated to serving to.” Arnaud Bertrand
Israeli leaders have settled on a plan that can enhance the variety of Palestinian deaths whereas diverting consideration from the ICJ’s claims of genocide.
On Friday, western information businesses reported that the UN’s humanitarian company, the United Nations Aid and Works Company or UNRWA, could have employed militants who had been concerned within the October 7 assaults on Israel. The claims—which stay sketchy and unverified—had been made on the identical day that the Worldwide Court docket of Justice delivered its historic genocide ruling towards the Jewish state. Whereas it’s doable that Israeli investigators uncovered new intelligence on Hamas’ assault, it’s extra possible that the announcement was perfectly-timed to divert consideration from the ICJ’s ruling.
Not surprisingly, the US and its allies—together with Australia, Canada, the UK, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Finland and the Netherlands—have all accepted Israel’s doubtful allegations and introduced that they may briefly droop funding for the UN company. The pace at which these international locations joined Israel in condemning the UNRWA, strongly means that they had been tipped-off (and advised what to do) previous to the announcement. All of this means that Israel is making an attempt to attenuate the reputational harm from the genocide indictment by making a smokescreen that can go away the general public confused and unable to assign blame. In line with the Occasions of Israel:
A senior Israeli official advised the Axios information web site that the Shin Wager and the IDF supplied info that pointed to the lively participation of UNRWA staffers together with the usage of the company’s automobiles and amenities within the October 7 terror onslaught.“This was robust and corroborated intelligence,” the official advised Axios. “A whole lot of the intelligence is a results of interrogations of militants who had been arrested in the course of the October 7 assault.” UNRWA sacks staffers who allegedly participated in Oct. 7 assault; US halts funding, Occasions of Israel
Every time the media bases its protection on info from an unidentified intelligence supply, you could assume they ‘don’t have anything’, which helps our primary perception that the Hamas fable is basically a diversion. Surprisingly, an article at CNN helps to bolster our thesis. Have a look:
Particulars stay scant. Neither Israel nor UNRWA have specified the character of the alleged involvement of UNRWA workers within the occasions of October 7.An Israeli official advised CNN on Friday that Israel shared details about 12 staffers allegedly concerned within the October 7 assaults each with UNRWA and the US…
Along with the staffers’ alleged October 7 involvement, the Israel Protection Forces on Saturday additionally alleged that UNRWA amenities had been used for “terrorist functions”, in a press release to CNN on Saturday.
Requested concerning the declare about UNRWA amenities, the company advised CNN, “We don’t have extra info on this at this stage.” (CNN)
Okay, let’s assessment:
- “Particulars stay scant.” (They don’t have anything.)
- “Neither Israel nor UNRWA have specified the character of the alleged involvement of UNRWA workers within the occasions of October 7.” (They don’t have anything.)
- An Israeli official … shared details about 12 staffers allegedly concerned within the October 7 assaults each with UNRWA and the US.” (“allegedly”. They don’t have anything.)
- the IDF “additionally alleged that UNRWA amenities had been used for “terrorist functions”. (“alleged”. Once more, no proof.)
- “the company advised CNN, “We don’t have extra info on this at this stage.” (Lastly, an clear admission that they don’t have anything.)
None of Israel’s claims have been corroborated, verified or confirmed. It’s all speculative pronouncements packaged as credible intelligence. (It’s embarrassing that they even publish this nonsense.)
All the identical, Israel’s closest allies have minimize funding and are actually doing their level-best to forestall the reduction company from working in Gaza. This can be a very critical state of affairs that might have dire penalties for Palestinians who at present haven’t any entry to meals, drugs or clear water. As unbelievable because it sounds, Israel seems to be implementing a technique geared toward intentionally ravenous hundreds of thousands of civilians to demise. If somebody has a greater clarification for Israel’s conduct, I might be very inquisitive about listening to it. That is from an editorial on the International Occasions:
For the reason that begin of this battle, 1.7 million individuals have sought refuge or obtained companies in over 150 UNRWA shelters and distribution websites. Meals, water, schooling, and healthcare in Gaza largely rely upon UNRWA. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s the final lifeline for two.2 million individuals. The funding of this company is sort of fully supplied by donors, and it has been in a financially tight and even disaster state for a few years. The international locations which have at present introduced the suspension of funding are necessary donor international locations, with their donations accounting for a big proportion of the group’s funds. …Israel has beforehand said that the Israeli authorities will implement a coverage to forestall UNRWA from working within the Gaza Strip after the present spherical of Israel-Palestine battle ends. Contemplating UNRWA’s pivotal place in native organizations throughout the UN, this can restrain the UN’s position in Gaza and the Center East, and deal a significant blow to the more and more dire humanitarian state of affairs within the Gaza Strip….
there’s at present no various to UNRWA, and it stays the one hope for Palestinian refugees. The worldwide group has broad consensus that “collective punishment” towards the Gaza inhabitants for condemning and combating terrorism is unacceptable and humanitarian wants ought to be assured…
Within the gradual progress of the “two-state answer,” UNRWA has performed an indispensable position in offering much-needed help to Palestinian refugees. It’s a shared accountability of all events to proceed supporting and sustaining the authority and standing of the UN. International Occasions
The article underscores what we mentioned earlier, that at present there isn’t any substitute for the UNRWA. If they’re prevented from helping Gaza’s almost 2 million inner refugees, they may starve; it’s that straightforward. So, as you possibly can see, Israel’s assault on the company just isn’t merely designed to obfuscate the genocide ruling, however to extend the likelihood of mass hunger. This sort of barbarous conduct, is tough to course of.
Take a look at this excerpt from the official assertion from Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner Basic:
“9 international locations have as of at present briefly suspended their funding to UNRWA. These selections threaten our ongoing humanitarian work throughout the area together with and particularly within the Gaza Strip.“It’s stunning to see a suspension of funds to the Company in response to allegations towards a small group of workers, particularly given the speedy motion that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a clear impartial investigation….
“UNRWA is the first humanitarian company in Gaza, with over 2 million individuals relying on it for his or her sheer survival. Many are hungry because the clock is ticking in the direction of a looming famine. The Company runs shelters for over 1 million individuals and supplies meals and first healthcare even on the top of the hostilities.
“In its ruling yesterday, the Worldwide Court docket of Justice ordered that “Israel should take speedy and efficient measures to allow the availability of urgently wanted primary companies and humanitarian help to deal with the hostile circumstances of life confronted by Palestinians within the Gaza Strip”. These measures are geared toward stopping irreparable harm to the rights of Palestinians.
“It will be immensely irresponsible to sanction an Company and a whole group it serves due to allegations of felony acts towards some people, particularly at a time of conflict, displacement and political crises within the area…
“I urge international locations who’ve suspended their funding to re-consider their selections earlier than UNRWA is compelled to droop its humanitarian response. The lives of individuals in Gaza rely upon this help and so does regional stability”. UNRWA’s lifesaving support could finish on account of funding suspension, unrwa.org
Is it truthful to explain Israel’s effort to dam primary humanitarian support to the Palestinians as “diabolical” or is just too crucial?
One of the best abstract of this problem was written by Arnaud Bertrand and posted on his Twitter account on Sunday. I hope you’ll take the time and browse it:
No matter your place is, simply take a second to mirror on simply how darkish that is.Simply hours after the ICJ concluded that Israel was plausibly committing genocide and ordered it to dramatically step up humanitarian efforts, 7 Western international locations sanctioned… not Israel however the Palestinians and the UN (!!!).
They minimize funding for UNRWA, which is THE UN company tasked with humanitarian help to Palestinians (and due to this fact their major lifeline).
Even in the event you had been the world’s worst cynic, you’d nonetheless have a tough time anticipating such sheer degree of cruelty and depravation. That is completely unfathomable.
They did so with the most cost effective doable excuse, successfully utilizing Israel’s narrative that “UNWRA is Hamas” and allegations by Israel that some UNWRA workers had been concerned within the seventh Oct assault however 1) Israel has been making these accusations for months (so the timing of slicing funding proper after the ICJ ruling is clearly not a coincidence) and a couple of) UNWRA has introduced it’s terminated the contracts of the workers members accused (12 individuals out of its 30,000 robust workforce) and launched an investigation, so it clearly doesn’t condone this. Even when the allegations had been to be confirmed right, how can a company of 30,000 workers be held collectively accountable for the person actions of 0.04% of its workforce? Particularly within the present context when its work is a life or demise matter for hundreds of thousands of individuals.
So as to add to the cynicism right here, UNWRA workers are literally a significant sufferer of the conflict with not less than 152 UNRWA staffers killed by Israel in Gaza so far. In a standard world, it’s Israel that ought to be punished for killing so many members of a humanitarian group. However nope, it’s the humanitarian group that’s getting punished, alongside with the very susceptible inhabitants it’s dedicated to serving to.”
That claims all of it.
No matter your place is, simply take a second to mirror on simply how darkish that is.
Simply hours after the ICJ concluded that Israel was plausibly committing genocide and ordered it to dramatically step up humanitarian efforts, 7 Western international locations sanctioned… not Israel however the… https://t.co/6DYT3v7EK1
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) January 28, 2024
