Bolton MP poses urgent question on Israel UNRWA ban

This comes after the Israeli government decided to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees from operating in Gaza and the West Bank.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Bolton South and Walkden MP Yasmin Qureshi posed an urgent question on the ban, warning that Palestinian lives could be "devastated."

Ms Qureshi said: “It will see UNRWA evicted from premises it has held for over 70 years and severely block its ability to provide essential services such as healthcare and education to millions of Palestine refugees and others.

“It is a reckless move and one that threatens to dismantle the backbone of the international humanitarian operation in Gaza, worsening an already catastrophic crisis.

Bolton has seen several pro-Palestinian rallies since last year (Image: Henry Lisowski)

“And it will also deprive them of essential food, water, medical aid, education, and protection, which is already being obstructed.

“But it will also will have, catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria where essential humanitarian aid is crucial for both the refugees and the host communities as well.

“It is clear, that these actions are part of the wider strategy to delegitimise UNRWA.

“And to undermine the international legal framework protecting their rights, specifically the right of return for Palestinian refugees who have been languishing in surrounding countries.”

Since the eruption of the latest stage in the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel in October last year Bolton has seen frequent public protests in support of the embattled Palestinians.

Ms Qureshi herself quit Labour’s front bench in November last year to vote for an amendment to the King’s Speech put by the Scottish National Party calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Addressing the House of Commons this week, Ms Qureshi said that the decision to ban UNRWA was backed by 90 per cent of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

She said this amounted to “collective punishment and the use of starvation as a weapon of war" and asked Minister of State for Development Annalise Dodds to make it clear this was not acceptable.

Ms Qureshi said: “It has had a mandate from the UN General Assembly since 1949 and has provided support to millions of refugees.

“Unilaterally tearing up UNRWA’s mandate would challenge the integrity of the international system and set a dangerous precedent.

“Will she make clear to her Israeli counterparts that attempts to undermine the UN, its institutions, and the international order are unacceptable and will be responded to as such?”

ALSO READ: Bolton MP quits Labour frontbench over vote for 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza

ALSO READ: Bolton MP calls for Gaza ceasefire as constituent's family 'relentlessly bombed'

ALSO READ: Bolton Councillors sign 'unprecedented letter' demanding Starmer back Gaza ceasefire

She added: “We have seen the decimation that has taken place.

“Is it not now the time to fulfil part two of the Balfour agreement, we have a state of Israel, should we not have now a state of Palestine?”

Ms Dodds said that the government felt the banning of UNRWA was “unacceptable” and also “wholly counterproductive for Israel.”

She said it would make the “humanitarian situation” much worse.