European Parliament To Discuss UNRWA In Palestine And Netanyahu’s Arrest Warrant This Afternoon
The European Parliament will be discussing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Palestine as well as the ICC’s arrest warrant against Israeli head of state Benjamin Netanyahu, later today.
The debate, which seeks to discuss the continued escalation in the Middle East, will be held later today during this week’s plenary that began yesterday and will run on till Thursday.
It is expected to begin between 3.30pm and 4pm and it will discuss aforementioned pressing matters as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West bank and the need to release all hostages.This means that MEPs either representing themselves or their EP groups will debate their positions on these issues before all 720 MEPs vote on a unified parliamentary position.
Just last Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. This means that all member states of the ICC, including the whole of the EU, have the obligation to arrest these individuals.
Meanwhile, last October, the UNRWA was banned from operating within Israel, prohibiting its ability to operate in Gaza, whose population of more than two million people are extremely dependent on life-saving services and aid from the agency.
The UNRWA provides education, healthcare, relief and social services, infrastructure and emergency response to thousands of Palestinian refugees. Without it, civilians in Gaza will lose their last remaining access to food, water, and medicine.
MEP Peter Agius expressed his opinion this matter, stating this was a terrible mistake and affirming that he will be voting so that the Palestinian people will become a sovereign and autonomous one.
Though the EU has been criticised for not being adequately vocal on the siege of Gaza, Agius claimed that it was the EPP Group that pushed for a serious and balanced discussion about the UNRWA to be held within the parliament.
The current death toll in Gaza stands at 44,970 Palestinians, according to Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, around 90% of the enclave’s total population has been internally displaced.
The MEPs will be voting on both matters this afternoon in order to determine a way forward.
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