Israel aid ban could trigger sanctions from Australia, expert says Gaza siege 'violates international law'

Israel has defied international law by moving to block a Palestinian aid agency and could face further reprimands and sanctions from nations like Australia, one expert says.

The Israeli Knesset passed laws banning the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from working on Israeli soil and deeming it a terror group, although they won’t come into effect immediately.

It has drawn international condemnation, including from Australia and a host of humanitarian groups.

While UNRWA isn’t the only aid agency in Gaza, “it’s the longest standing and has historically and recently carried the principal responsibility for humanitarian relief in Gaza”, international law expert Don Rothwell said.

Israel was obliged by two international court orders from January and March to facilitate humanitarian aid and relief in the besieged strip, including by cooperating directly with the UN, the professor said.

“Prohibiting UNRWA from operating in Gaza absent providing support for an effective alternate humanitarian aid organisation violates Israel’s international law obligations,” he told AAP.

Israel’s blockade of northern Gaza and throttling of aid and supplies further broke international law, he said.

Prof Rothwell predicted “unilateral sanctions being imposed on Israel by certain western States, possibly including Australia”.

Palestinian groups and the Greens have renewed their calls for sanctions against Israel for human rights abuses, accusing Australia of not going far enough in its condemnation.

“The ban on UNRWA activities not only exacerbates the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza but also highlights a systematic campaign to strip Palestinians of their basic human rights and dignity,” Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Rateb Jneid said.

“The international community’s failure to hold Israel accountable encourages further violations and destabilises the prospects for peace.”

Prof Rothwell also envisaged further proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice and a UN Security Council direction for Israel to facilitate more aid.

The latter would be “probably after the US election when the Biden administration would have more flexibility in supporting such a vote”, he said.

Israel moved to ban UNRWA from operating on its soil as part of a sustained campaign against the aid agency, which it accuses of turning a blind eye to terrorist links within its ranks and allowing Hamas to use its facilities.

The UN agency says it takes decisive action against anyone with terror links and denies willingly allowing terrorists to use its facilities.

UNRWA investigated Israeli allegations and fired nine staff, while dismissing accusations against 10 others due to a lack of evidence.

International partners, including Australia, paused aid to UNRWA when the allegations surfaced.

The federal government reinstated payments after intelligence agencies determined it wasn’t a terrorist organisation and after a strict probity agreement was put in place.