Jerusalem (UNA/WAFA) – The Israeli occupation authorities have notified of the closure of a clinic belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Governorate stated in a statement issued today, Tuesday, that the occupation authorities have notified the closure of the Jerusalem Health Center (Al-Zawiya Clinic), located inside Bab al-Sahira and affiliated with UNRWA, for a period of one month, until February 11th./Next February, in a move aimed at undermining health services provided in the city of Jerusalem.
She added that the notification included a threat to cut off water and electricity to the clinic if it reopened after the closure period ended, which portends serious repercussions for the right to health care and directly affects the needs of Jerusalem residents, especially the most vulnerable groups..
The Zawiya Clinic is the oldest health center affiliated with the agency, having been opened in 1949. It serves 30 refugees, providing primary health care services for children up to the age of 3, for children and pregnant women, family planning services in its various departments, mental health, chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, an emergency department, and dentistry. It should be noted that family planning, childhood vaccinations, and mental health services are provided to both refugees and non-refugees.
The Jerusalem Governorate reported that the Israeli occupation authorities have approved practical steps to implement the law cutting off electricity and water to the buildings of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem, and have begun sending official notices in preparation for implementation, in a new escalation targeting the agency's presence and its vital institutions within the city..
A statement issued by the governorate on Monday evening reported that notices had been delivered by the Israeli Electricity Company to cut off electricity to UNRWA buildings located within the separation wall and the apartheid settlement expansion, with implementation to begin in 15 days, based on a law approved by the Israeli Knesset on December 30./December of last year.
The governorate added that the so-called Israeli company “Gihon” also sent separate notices to stop supplying water to properties operated by the agency in Jerusalem..
Initial assessments revealed that these measures affected ten UNRWA buildings, including schools, clinics, training centers, and administrative offices, among them the agency's main office in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which threatens serious repercussions for the educational, health, and relief services provided to Palestinian refugees in the city..
It is worth noting that the Israeli Knesset gave final approval to this law at the end of December./Last December, in its second and third readings, by a majority of 59 votes to 7, in a move that constitutes a clear violation of the UN Charter, international law, and resolutions of international legitimacy, most notably General Assembly Resolution 302, which established UNRWA to ensure the provision of services to Palestinian refugees until a just solution to their issue is reached..
UNRWA provides services to more than 110 refugees in Jerusalem. The UN agency operates two refugee camps: Shuafat camp in the east of the city, which was established in 1965 and is home to about 16500 registered refugees, and Qalandia camp in the north of the city, which was established in 1949 and is home to about 16400 registered refugees, according to data from UNRWA’s website.
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