Canada Funds UNRWA Amid Daily Israeli Violence Endangering Refugee Lives in Occupied Palestine
June 30th, 2023
The recent series of tragic events unfolding in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is a grim reminder of the persistent violations and abuses afflicting Palestinian and Israeli populations.
Last week’s raid by Israeli security forces in the Jenin refugee camp resulted in the loss of seven Palestinian lives, including two children. 60 others were injured. The latest Israeli raid on the refugee camp was one of the biggest attacks in the occupied West Bank for years. Disturbingly, Israeli settlers in Palestinian villages surrounding Nablus and Ramallah subsequently engaged in vandalism, setting fire to land and properties, including a school.
On June 26th, the Canadian government renewed funding for Palestinian refugees for the next four years. However, the amount was reduced by $5M. Canada pledged up to $100 million over 4 years to support the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), the UN agency providing critical services to 5.9 million Palestine refugees. Compared to the prior $90M committed over 3 years, the amount was reduced by $5M annually. According to the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, “UNRWA faces a chronic crisis of underfunding which poses an imminent threat to its ability to provide services.”
“We welcome Global Affairs Canada’s financial assistance to UNRWA but maintain serious concerns regarding the lack of political support for Palestinian refugee rights. The new pledge is comparable to the cost of Canadian weapons exports to Israel over the past three years, which is up to $27M.” expressed Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
In recent months, Israeli forces have frequently resorted to lethal force, irrespective of the level of threat posed. Often triggered by settler attacks or incursions into Palestinian villages, this response includes search-and-arrest operations and violent confrontations with Palestinians. According to the United Nations, 2022 marked the deadliest year for Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 2005, with over 150 Palestinians, including 26 children, killed by Israeli security forces. This year has seen a continuation of such high levels of violence, with more than 160 Palestinians killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since January.
In addition to the daily threat of violence, Israeli authorities have recently expedited and expanded settlement activities through altered planning procedures. Plans are underway to advance over 4,000 settlement housing units in occupied territories. On 19 June, Secretary-General Guterres expressed deep concern over these developments, reiterating that settlements constitute a blatant violation of international law. He emphasized that "the expansion of these illegal settlements fuels tensions and violence, exacerbates humanitarian needs, solidifies Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, and undermines the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and sovereignty."
The UN Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on the OPT reached similar conclusions in June 2022. In its first report released in June 2023, the commission highlighted how the silencing of civil society voices by Israeli authorities is intricately linked to perpetuating a state of permanent occupation, to the detriment of the rights of the Palestinian people.
To establish a foundation for sustainable peace in the region, Justice For All Canada calls on the Israeli government to immediately cease and reverse all settlement activities, while ending institutionalized systematic racial oppression and discrimination against Palestinians, which amounts to apartheid.
The recent series of tragic events unfolding in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is a grim reminder of the persistent violations and abuses afflicting Palestinian and Israeli populations.
Last week’s raid by Israeli security forces in the Jenin refugee camp resulted in the loss of seven Palestinian lives, including two children. 60 others were injured. The latest Israeli raid on the refugee camp was one of the biggest attacks in the occupied West Bank for years. Disturbingly, Israeli settlers in Palestinian villages surrounding Nablus and Ramallah subsequently engaged in vandalism, setting fire to land and properties, including a school.
On June 26th, the Canadian government renewed funding for Palestinian refugees for the next four years. However, the amount was reduced by $5M. Canada pledged up to $100 million over 4 years to support the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), the UN agency providing critical services to 5.9 million Palestine refugees. Compared to the prior $90M committed over 3 years, the amount was reduced by $5M annually. According to the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, “UNRWA faces a chronic crisis of underfunding which poses an imminent threat to its ability to provide services.”
“We welcome Global Affairs Canada’s financial assistance to UNRWA but maintain serious concerns regarding the lack of political support for Palestinian refugee rights. The new pledge is comparable to the cost of Canadian weapons exports to Israel over the past three years, which is up to $27M.” expressed Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
- Earlier this year, Canada boycotted the inaugural UN event commemorating the Palestinian Nakba and the creation of the refugee crisis.
- Since 2011, Canada has consistently abstained from voting on resolutions renewing UNRWA's mandate at the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
- Canada’s government has even voted against motions supporting UNRWA's activities.
In recent months, Israeli forces have frequently resorted to lethal force, irrespective of the level of threat posed. Often triggered by settler attacks or incursions into Palestinian villages, this response includes search-and-arrest operations and violent confrontations with Palestinians. According to the United Nations, 2022 marked the deadliest year for Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 2005, with over 150 Palestinians, including 26 children, killed by Israeli security forces. This year has seen a continuation of such high levels of violence, with more than 160 Palestinians killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since January.
In addition to the daily threat of violence, Israeli authorities have recently expedited and expanded settlement activities through altered planning procedures. Plans are underway to advance over 4,000 settlement housing units in occupied territories. On 19 June, Secretary-General Guterres expressed deep concern over these developments, reiterating that settlements constitute a blatant violation of international law. He emphasized that "the expansion of these illegal settlements fuels tensions and violence, exacerbates humanitarian needs, solidifies Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, and undermines the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and sovereignty."
The UN Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on the OPT reached similar conclusions in June 2022. In its first report released in June 2023, the commission highlighted how the silencing of civil society voices by Israeli authorities is intricately linked to perpetuating a state of permanent occupation, to the detriment of the rights of the Palestinian people.
To establish a foundation for sustainable peace in the region, Justice For All Canada calls on the Israeli government to immediately cease and reverse all settlement activities, while ending institutionalized systematic racial oppression and discrimination against Palestinians, which amounts to apartheid.