Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• This resolution perpetuates the anomaly whereby Palestinians are the only people not served by UNHCR, but instead by a special UN agency. The resolution makes one-sided condemnations of Israeli actions, but is silent on Palestinian terrorism against Israelis and abuses by Palestinian forces against their own citizens, including the exploitation of Palestinian civilians as human shields. It ignores UNRWA's admission that members of Hamas, a terrorist organization, were on its payroll. It calls on Israel to allow construction materials into the Gaza Strip yet fails to acknowledge Hamas's use of such materials to build attack tunnels and other terrorist infrastructure.

Main Sponsors

Cuba, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, South Africa, Palestine

Vote

Yes - 162, No - 4, Abstain - 9, Absent - 17

See Full Vote

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

• "Gravely concerned about the extremely difficult socioeconomic conditions being faced by the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the recurrent military operations, continuing prolonged Israeli closures, the construction of settlements and the wall... and the severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade..."
• "Deploring further all attacks affecting United Nations installations, including Agency schools sheltering displaced civilians, and all other breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, including during the conflict in the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014..."
• "Condemning the killing, injury and detention contrary to international law of Agency staff members."
• "Condemning also the killing, wounding and detention contrary to international law of refugee children and women."
• "Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949."
• "Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations in order to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency..."