Israel will cancel UNRWA’s tax benefits - Bezalel Smotrich

UNRWA
(Photo: Twitter/X)
TEL AVIV – On Thursday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced his intention to cancel tax benefits for UNRWA, which currently provides aid to Palestinian refugees, Quds Press reported. “The State of Israel will not give tax benefits to terrorist aides,” Smotrich posted on X, referring to UNRWA. Among other things, UNRWA was previously entitled to exemptions from customs duties and sales tax on imported goods. It also received exemptions on value-added tax (VAT) for imports and fuel-related taxes. This decision comes in light of allegations made by Israel regarding the involvement of 12 UNRWA employees who participated in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023. As a result of these allegations, 18 countries and the EU suspended their funding for UNRWA. However, UNRWA has issued a warning that if its funders do not change their minds, its operations might cease by the end of February. UNRWA was established in 1948 to provide educational and health services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The agency plays a crucial role in providing aid to two-thirds of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million population during the ongoing war. Read more Region and World Jordan News Read More Martyrs and Injuries as Israeli Occupation Bombs Multiple Areas in Gaza Kallas: We are waiting for concrete steps from Israel to finalize the agreement to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza UN: 875 Palestinians Killed Near Aid Sites in Gaza Over Six Weeks
TEL AVIV – On Thursday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced his intention to cancel tax benefits for UNRWA, which currently provides aid to Palestinian refugees, Quds Press reported.

“The State of Israel will not give tax benefits to terrorist aides,” Smotrich posted on X, referring to UNRWA.

Among other things, UNRWA was previously entitled to exemptions from customs duties and sales tax on imported goods. It also received exemptions on value-added tax (VAT) for imports and fuel-related taxes.

This decision comes in light of allegations made by Israel regarding the involvement of 12 UNRWA employees who participated in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023. As a result of these allegations, 18 countries and the EU suspended their funding for UNRWA.

However, UNRWA has issued a warning that if its funders do not change their minds, its operations might cease by the end of February.

UNRWA was established in 1948 to provide educational and health services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The agency plays a crucial role in providing aid to two-thirds of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million population during the ongoing war.


Read more Region and World
Jordan News