Borrell warns of 'disastrous consequences' for refugees if Israeli Knesset bans UNRWA
Since 1949, UNRWA has been the main organisation responsible for delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in occupied territories and providing services for Palestinian refugees in other countries.
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00:00The European Union has warned of disastrous consequences if Israel's parliament passes
00:07a bill outlawing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWR, from operating in Israel.
00:13In a statement, the foreign policy chief Yosef Barel said the bloc was gravely concerned
00:18for the welfare of the Palestinian people if the Knesset passes the draft legislation.
00:23Barel urged Israel to allow UNWR's work to continue, calling it crucial for the region.
00:28Those comments come after an Israeli parliamentary committee approved a bill earlier this week
00:33that would ban UNWR from operating in Israeli territory.
00:37Since 1949, UNWR has been the main organization responsible for delivering humanitarian aid
00:42to Palestinians in the occupied territories and abroad.
00:46But for years, Israel has lobbied against its work, alleging it has links to terrorist
00:51groups.
00:52Earlier this year, Israel alleged that some UNWR staff participated in the Hamas attack
00:56on Israel in October last year, an incursion that sparked the war in Gaza.