Israel’s parliament has approved legislation that will prohibit the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, Unrwa, from operating within Israel and Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem within three months.
Additionally, Unrwa employees will be restricted from contacting Israeli officials, significantly limiting the agency’s ability to function in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Unrwa’s cooperation with the Israeli military, which oversees all crossings into Gaza, is crucial for delivering aid to the conflict-ravaged region. The agency, which plays a primary role in providing humanitarian support on the ground, will lose legal immunity within Israel, and its East Jerusalem headquarters is set to be closed.
UN Secretary General António Guterres warned that the legislation
“would be detrimental for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for peace and security in the region as a whole.”
Unrwa’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, stated it “will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians.”
Several countries, including the US, the UK, and Germany, have voiced strong concerns.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticised the move as “totally wrong,” while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned it threatens to make Unrwa’s “essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza.”
The US State Department emphasised Unrwa’s “critical” role in providing aid in Gaza, where most of the two million residents depend on agency services.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented,
“Unrwa workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable,” but added, “sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza.”
He further stated on X, “We stand ready to work with our international partners to ensure Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not threaten Israel’s security.”
Israel’s longstanding opposition to Unrwa has intensified, alleging that Unrwa staff collaborated with Hamas in Gaza. Israel claimed that 19 Unrwa workers participated in the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023.
A UN investigation led to the dismissal of nine accused staff, though the UN maintained that broader allegations lacked evidence.
Unrwa has clarified that any interactions with Hamas are solely to carry out its humanitarian mission.
The Knesset approved the bills with a substantial majority. Yuli Edelstein, chairman of the Knesset’s foreign affairs and security committee, presented the legislation, accusing Unrwa of acting as a “cover for terrorist actions.” Edelstein claimed there was a “deep connection between the terrorist organisation (Hamas) and Unrwa” that Israel could not tolerate.
For decades, Unrwa – the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees – has offered vital services, including healthcare and education, to millions of Palestinians.
Since the conflict escalated last year, the agency’s presence has been essential for delivering humanitarian supplies to civilians, the majority of whom rely on aid to survive.
Unrwa Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the ban as “unprecedented” and argued that it “opposes the UN Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law.”
He warned that the measure could deprive over 650,000 children in Gaza of education, threatening an entire generation.
Approximately 2.5 million Palestinians are registered with Unrwa across the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
In northern Gaza, where Israeli forces continue operations against Hamas, hundreds of thousands of residents face worsening conditions.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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