,,ii #aah? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #echh ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,novemb] #ba1 #bjbd,mr4 ,wel* 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mr4 ,van ,holl51 ,ms4 ,klobu*>1 & ,ms4 ,hirono7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to re/ore fund+ = ! ,unit$ ,nations ,relief & ,works ,ag5cy = ,pale/9e ,refugees 9 ! ,ne> ,ea/ 7,,unrwa74 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,,unrwa ,fund+ ,em]g5cy ,re/oration ,act ( #bjbd4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! humanit>ian crisis 9 ,gaza has rea*$ a cata/rophic em]g5cy level1 ) at lea/ #b1jjj1jjj ,pale/9ian civilians suff]+ daily due to a lack ( access to basic necessities ( life caus$ by ! escalat+ conflict4 7#b7 ,9 ,octob] #bjbd1 ! ,integrat$ ,food ,security ,phase ,classification's ,fam9e ,review ,committee conclud$-- 7,a7 ! entire ,gaza ,/rip is 9 ,,ipc ,phase #d 7,em]g5cy7 acute food insecurity2 & 7,b7 !re is a risk ( fam9e = ! entire ,gaza ,/rip betwe5 ,novemb] #bjbd & ,april #bjbe4 7#c7 ,s9ce #aidi1 ! ,unit$ ,nations ,relief & ,works ,ag5cy = ,pale/9e ,refugees 9 ! ,ne> ,ea/ 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is ,act z ,,unrwa7 has play$ a vital & c5tral role 9 provid+ %elt]1 education1 heal?c>e1 & f9ancial assi/ance to millions ( ,pale/9ians liv+ 9 vuln]able refugee communities 9 ,gaza1 ! ,we/ ,bank1 ,syria1 ,lebanon1 & ,jordan4 7#d7 ,,unrwa's aid op]ations are ess5tial to meet+ ! humanit>ian ne$s ( ,pale/9ian civilians liv+ 9 ,gaza & else:]e4 7#e7 ,foll[+ allegations ( direct involvem5t by few] ?an #bj ,,unrwa employees 9 ! deva/at+ t]rori/ attacks ( ,octob] #g1 #bjbc1 ,,unrwa ,commission]-,g5]al ,lazz>9i act$ swiftly & decisively1 fully coop]at+ ) ,israeli au?orities1 publicly disclos+ ! allegations1 & imm$iately t]m9at+ all ! employees :o may h be5 involv$4 ,^! few] ?an #bj employees repres5t a small p]c5tage ( ! approximately #ac1jjj ,,unrwa employees 9 ,gaza & ,,unrwa's total work=ce ( approximately #cj1jjj4 7#f7 ,unit$ ,nations ,secret>y-,g5]al ,antnio ,gut]res took additional action1 includ+-- 7,a7 laun*+ an inve/igation into ! allegations by ! ,unit$ ,nation's highe/ ov]sight body1 ! ,(fice ( ,int]nal ,ov]sight ,s]vices2 & 7,b7 creat+ an ,indep5d5t ,review ,gr\p1 l$ by =m] ,fr5* ,=eign ,m9i/] ,ca!r9e ,colonna1 to assess :e!r ,,unrwa is do+ ev]y?+ )9 its p[] to ensure neutrality & respond to allegations ( s]i\s neutrality brea*es4 7#g7 ,9 ,april #bjbd1 ! ,indep5d5t ,review ,gr\p-- 7,a7 conclud$ t ,,unrwa-- 7i7 has e/abli%$ a significant numb] ( me*anisms & proc$ures to ensure compliance ) humanit>ian pr9ciples ) an emphasis on ! pr9ciple ( neutrality2 7ii7 already possesses a m develop$ approa* to neutrality ?an o!r simil> ,unit$ ,nations entities or nongov]nm5tal organizations2 & 7iii7 recomm5d$ additional /eps to /r5g!n neutrality policies1 all ( :i* ,,unrwa imm$iately agre$ to fully implem5t4 7#h7 ,,unrwa has implem5t$ a ,high-,level ,action ,plan to implem5t ! ,indep5d5t ,review ,gr\p's recomm5dations4 ,z ( ,septemb] #bjbd-- 7,a7 #b recomm5dations h be5 fully implem5t$2 7,b7 #ag recomm5dations are 9 progress2 & 7,c7 ! timel9e = implem5t+ ! rema9+ recomm5dations is outl9$ 9 ,,unrwa's relat$ ,high-,level ,action ,plan1 :i* articulates specific actions & res\rce requirem5ts4 7#i7 ,on ,octob] #bh1 #bjbd1 ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate spokesp]son ,mat!w ,mill] decl>$-- 7,a7 ,,unrwa plays an irreplaceable role "r n[ 9 ,gaza1 :]e !y are on ! front l9es gett+ humanit>ian assi/ance to ! p t ne$ x4 ,!re's nobody t c replace !m "r n[ 9 ! middle ( ! crisis42 & 7,b7 ,,unrwa plays an important role provid+ s]vices to ,pale/9ians 9 ! ,we/ ,bank & ?r\gh\t ! region z well44 7#aj7 ,on ,novemb] #ab1 #bjbd1 ,ambassador ,l9da ,?omas-,gre5field1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,p]man5t ,repres5tative to ! ,unit$ ,nations1 confirm$1 ,,unrwa's role has be5 vital z ! frontl9e ( ?is humanit>ian response4 ,! ,ag5cy facilitates approximately #hj p]c5t ( humanit>ian aid 9 ,gaza44 7#aa7 ,foll[+ ! decisive actions tak5 by ! ,unit$ ,nations & ! commitm5ts made by ,,unrwa t[>d additional re=ms1 major memb]-/ate supports ( ,,unrwa1 includ+ ! ,european ,union1 ! ,unit$ ,k+dom1 ,g]many1 ,sw$51 ,japan1 ,france1 ,switz]l&1 ,canada1 ,! ,ne!rl&s1 ,au/ralia1 ,italy1 ,au/ria1 ,f9l&1 ,icel&1 ,romania1 & ,e/onia h resum$ _! fund+ to ,,unrwa4 7#ab7 ,irel&1 ,portugal1 ,spa91 & ,belgium h s9ce provid$ res\rces to ,,unrwa beyond _! orig9al commitm5ts4 7#ac7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :i* has hi/orically be5 ! l>ge/ fund] ( ,,unrwa1 plays a pivotal role 9 support+ ,,unrwa's critical mission4 7#ad7 ,prop]ly vett$ fund+ = ,,unrwa rema9s 9 ! compreh5sive /rategic int]e/s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & its allies4 7#ae7 ,9 an ,octob] #ac1 #bjbd lett] to ! ,/ate ( ,israel ,m9i/] ( ,def5se1 ,yoav ,gallant1 & ! ,/ate ( ,israel ,m9i/] ( ,/rategic ,affairs1 ,ron ,d]m]1 ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,antony ,bl9k5 & ,secret>y ( ,def5se ,lloyd ,au/9 w>n$ t #b draft bills be+ consid]$ by ! ,knessett w\ld deva/ate ! ,gaza humanit>ian response & c\ld h implications "u relevant ,u4,s4 law & policy4 7#af7 ,on ,octob] #ai1 #bjbd1 ,ambassador ,l9da ,?omas-,gre5field1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,p]man5t ,repres5tative to ! ,unit$ ,nations1 express$ conc]ns ab\t ^! #b draft bills at ! ,unit$ ,nations ,security ,c\ncil ,brief+ on ! ,middle ,ea/1 & /at$ !re is no alt]native to ,,unrwa :5 x comes to deliv]+ food & o!r life-sav+ aid 9 ,gaza4 7#ag7 ,on ,octob] #bh1 #bjbd1 ! ,israel ,knesset approv$ ^! #b bills1 :i* b> ,,unrwa f op]at+ 9 ,israel & w dra/ically curtail ,,unrwa op]ations 9 ! ,we/ ,bank & ,gaza4 7#ah7 ,on ,novemb] #a1 #bjbd1 ! _w's lead+ humanit>ian coord9ation =um1 kn[n z ! ,int]-,ag5cy ,/&+ ,committee1 decl>$ t implem5tation ( ! ,knesset legislation w\ld be a cata/rophe = ! humanit>ian response 9 ,gaza1 diametrically oppos$ to ! ,unit$ ,nations ,*>t]1 ) pot5tial dire impacts on ! human rights ( ! millions ( ,pale/9ians dep5d+ on ,,unrwa's assi/ance ''' !re is no alt]native to ,,unrwa44 7#ai7 ,if ,,unrwa _c op]ate 9 ! occupi$ ,pale/9ian t]ritory1 ! responsibility = provid+ s]vices to ,pale/9ians1 & = be>+ ! co/ ( ^! s]vices1 w lie n ) ! ,unit$ ,nations1 b ) ,israel4 #c4 ,/atem5t ( policy ,congress-- 7#a7 recognizes t prev5t+ fur!r erosion ( civilian conditions 9 ,gaza rema9s 9 ! /rategic & moral int]e/s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#b7 supports ,,unrwa's unique & indisp5sable contribution to imm$iately address+ urg5t humanit>ian ne$s 9 ,gaza1 especially 9 mitigat+ & /opp+ ! spread ( fam9e & disease2 7#c7 reaffirms ! imp]ative ( ,,unrwa's cont9u$ provision ( humanit>ian & human developm5t s]vices to ,pale/9ian refugees 9 all its curr5t fields ( op]ation1 includ+ ,jordan1 ,lebanon1 ,syria1 ,gaza1 & ! ,we/ ,bank 7includ+ ,ea/ ,j]usalem72 7#d7 urges ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,israel to assi/ ,,unrwa 9 its neutrality ef=ts by provid+ names1 in=mation1 & evid5ce ,,unrwa c use to aggressively pursue allegations relat$ to /aff violations ( ,,unrwa's neutrality policies2 7#e7 urges ! ,presid5t-- 7,a7 to jo9 ,unit$ ,/ates allies 9 re/or+ fund+ to ,,unrwa 9 response to ! responsible actions tak5 by ! ,unit$ ,nations & ! commitm5ts made by ,,unrwa t[>d additional acc\ntability & transp>5cy2 & 7,b7 to ensure cont9u$ fund+ to ,,unrwa is assess$ bas$ on ,,unrwa's ongo+ execution ( ! recomm5dations ( ! ,indep5d5t ,review ,gr\p1 l$ by ,ca!r9e ,colonna2 7#f7 recognizes ! implem5tation ( "s ( ! ,indep5d5t ,review ,gr\p's recomm5dations w require ,unit$ ,nations memb] /ate coop]ation1 includ+ additional fund+2 7#g7 urges ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,israel to assi/ ,,unrwa 9 its implem5tation ef=ts ( ! ,indep5d5t ,review ,gr\p's recomm5dations2 & 7#h7 supports appropriat+ critical funds to ,,unrwa = fiscal ye> #bjbe & beyond4 #d4 ,re/oration ( fund+ = ,,unrwa 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,beg9n+ on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act-- 7#a7 title ,,iii ( division ,g ( ! ,fur!r ,consolidat$ ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbd 7,public ,law #aah-dg7 is h]eby repeal$2 7#b7 section #cjh ( ! ,israel ,security ,supplem5tal ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbd 7division ,a ( ,public ,law #aah-ej7 is h]eby repeal$2 & 7#c7 not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all1 z soon z practicable-- 7,a7 resc9d ! tempor>y pause 9 fund+ = ,,unrwa describ$ 9 ! press /atem5t entitl$ ,/atem5t on ,,unrwa ,allegations issu$ on ,janu>y #bf1 #bjbd2 & 7,b7 resume ! provision ( fund+ to ,,unrwa "u curr5t au?orities ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate4 7b7 ,reports ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & qu>t]ly !reaft] ?r\gh ,decemb] #ca1 #bjbg1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all submit a report to ! appropriate congressional committees ( jurisdiction describ+ ! /eps ,,unrwa is tak+ to implem5t ! recomm5dations made by ! ,indep5d5t ,review ,gr\p1 l$ by ,ca!r9e ,colonna4