Closure of a Hebron district is ‘collective punishment’ says UN

The United Nations relief agency working with Palestinian refugees has said that Israel’s closure of a Hebron district amounts to “collective punishment” and warned of the humanitarian impact.

Scott Anderson, West Bank field director at the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, condemned the closure of Fawwar Camp, saying it meant that rubbish could not be collected, medical supplies could not be delivered and UN staff could not travel where needed.

“I call upon the Israeli authorities to refrain from collectively punishing innocent people for the acts of others,” he said.

“This is all the more disturbing when Fawwar camp residents – a refugee couple – were the first to respond to the Israeli family following the drive-by shooting incident, giving them first aid before the arrival of the ambulances.”