Israel Neither Wants Palestinian Authority Nor UNRWA, Palestinian Premier Says

Israel does not want the Palestinian Authority or the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said on Monday.

"The occupation does not want our people to live," Mustafa said during a visit to the city of Tulkarm and the Nur Shams refugee camp where at least 14 people were killed in an Israeli military raid last week.

"Israel does not want the Palestinian Authority to be among our people or the UNRWA," he added.

UNRWA has been facing an Israeli incitement campaign, following Israeli accusations that some of the UN agency members were involved in the Hams attack on Oct. 7, 2023. UNRWA, however, says Israel didn't present evidence backing its allegations against the agency.

"The Israeli aggression against the Nur Shams camp and other refugee camps…is a systematic and ongoing crime, through which it wants to perpetuate its occupation forever so that our people do not gain their freedom," the Palestinian premier said.

Parallel to its brutal onslaught on the Gaza Strip since Oct 7, 2023 following a Hamas attack, the Israeli army has escalated raids and arrests in the West Bank, including the occupied East Jerusalem.

At least 486 Palestinians have been killed and 4,900 others injured in attacks by Israeli army forces and illegal settlers in the West Bank since then, according to the Health Ministry.

The destructive offensive on Gaza has resulted in more than 34,100 deaths, most of them children and women, along with massive destruction and famine that has killed children and the elderly, according to Palestinian and international data.

Israel continues its war despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. Tel Aviv is also facing charges of "genocide" before the International Court of Justice.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar -