Israel boycotts court, says terror-tied UN agency should face trial
Israel’s foreign minister, Gidon Sa’ar, did not hold back in his criticism of the United Nations as the organization’s court began a hearing on Israel’s legal responsibilities in Gaza. Sa’ar labeled the U.N. as a “rotten, anti-Israel, and antisemitic body” that should be held accountable for covering up terror affiliates within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) who were involved in the attacks of October 7, 2023. Sa’ar demanded that the U.N. answer for these crimes.
Sa’ar went on to accuse U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of being personally accountable for the situation, claiming that Guterres was aware of the terrorist activities within UNRWA but chose to ignore the warnings from Israel. Sa’ar presented evidence indicating that 25% of UNRWA staff were implicated in terrorist activities prior to the attacks in 2023 and accused the organization of being a proxy for the terrorist group Hamas.
In response to Sa’ar’s accusations, Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, defended the U.N.’s actions, stating that the organization had taken swift action in response to the complaints against UNRWA staff involved in the attacks. Dujarric also highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by Israel’s blockade of aid, emphasizing the urgent need for medical supplies and other essentials.
The U.N.’s legal counsel, Elinor Hammarskjöld, expressed concerns about Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and criticized Israel for attempting to block the operation of impartial humanitarian organizations like UNRWA. She reiterated the U.N.’s stance that its premises are inviolable under the Geneva Convention and immune from interference.
Israel’s statement to the International Court of Justice outlined numerous instances of UNRWA’s violations of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, accusing the agency of allowing terrorist organizations to use its facilities as hideouts. The U.S. also suspended aid to UNRWA after learning about the involvement of its members in the attacks.
In a separate development, the U.S. Justice Department ruled that UNRWA does not have diplomatic immunity in the U.S., opening the door for a lawsuit filed by victims of the October 7 attacks seeking $1 billion in damages from the agency. UNRWA Commissioner-General Phillipe Lazzarini is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
As tensions between Israel and the U.N. escalate, the international community watches closely to see how the legal proceedings unfold and what implications they may have for the future of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The situation remains complex and volatile, with no easy solutions in sight.
