Netanyahu urges UN to dismantle its Palestinian aid agency

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In 2014, Israel's offensive in Gaza claimed the lives of at least 2,125 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 71 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

The UNRWA was created in 1949 in the wake of Israel's War of Independence.

It says it now aids five million registered Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.

It also distributes aid and provides teacher training centres, health clinics and social services.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the comments on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) during a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.

"Hamas is using school children as human shields, and that is the enemy we have been fighting for years; an enemy that commits two-fold war crimes", he stated, adding that "On the one hand, [Hamas] intentionally attacks innocent civilians all the while hiding behind children".

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Chris Gunness, UNRWA's chief spokesman, said in an email to Reuters that only the General Assembly, by a majority vote, could change the agency's mandate. It was given a three-year extended mandate in December by a large majority.

Rishq said Netanyahu's call to dismantle UNRWA was "part of the Israeli plan to eliminate the Palestinian refugee problem once and for all". "It is time for political action to resolve this long-standing crisis", he said.

The organization strongly objected against the tunnel running under its grounds and chastised the militants for putting students and staff at risk. "The construction and presence of tunnels under U.N. premises are incompatible with the respect of privileges and immunities owed to the United Nations under applicable worldwide law, which provides that U.N. premises shall be inviolable".

United Nations officials working in Gaza said that the large majority of Gaza residents and businesses get about four hours of electricity three times a day, under current power flows.

Netanyahu said he raised the issue during the visit in recent days of Washington's UN envoy Nicky Haley, who has accused the United Nations of bias against Israel.

Hamas is listed as a terror organization by the United States and most of Europe.

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