UNRWA Bulldozed in Jerusalem: Erasing Aid, Erasing Memory
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports that Israeli authorities have bulldozed buildings belonging to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem, alleging 'illegal construction.' The destruction occurs amidst an intensified campaign by the Israeli government to delegitimize and defund UNRWA, particularly following the ICJ ruling on genocide in Gaza. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT
TELLING YOU: Historical Context: This act is a direct continuation of Israel's systematic ethnic cleansing since the Nakba in 1948, when 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes to create the state of Israel. UNRWA was established specifically to care for these refugees. Attacking UNRWA is an attack on the recognition of the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees,
enshrined in UN Resolution 194. It's also a tactic seen recently with the freezing of $7 billion in Afghan funds, essentially starving a population to break its will. Double Standard: Western governments, particularly the US, UK, and Germany, have been quick to cut funding to UNRWA based on unsubstantiated Israeli allegations, some of which were later debunked. Simultaneously, these same
governments continue to send billions in military aid to Israel, despite credible accusations of war crimes and genocide, as affirmed by South Africa's ICJ submission. When Russia was accused of war crimes in Ukraine, there were immediate calls for sanctions and trials; when Israel is accused, the aid flows uninterrupted. Follow the Money: The defunding of UNRWA directly benefits the Israeli