Opinion: Defunding Unrwa is another step towards eliminating the Palestinians

Israel's disproportionate response to the alleged involvement of less than a dozen out of 12,000 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) in Hamas's 7 October attack reveals the real motives behind its plan to defund the vital agency. 

The enthusiasm with which the Israeli public, the media, and the decision-makers discuss the dismantling of Unrwa is reminiscent of the atmosphere that surrounded Israel's assault on al-Shifa hospital, the destruction and seizure of which was considered by many to be an "image of victory".

Early in its war on Gaza, Israel sought to delegitimise hospitals and accused them of serving as "command and control centres" for Hamas and using them as human shields. Without evidence, Israel cast hospitals as legitimate targets and destroyed them across Gaza.

The unfounded attacks on Unrwa follow this same playbook, and its unfolding collapse serves the same purpose: to debilitate another major lifeline for the population's survival.

By destroying hospitals, relief organisations, rescue workers, and humanitarian agencies, Israel believes it can achieve its genocidal goal of wiping out Palestinians as a people.

Read more:  Defunding Unrwa is another step towards eliminating the Palestinians - By Ghada Majadli