Israel Votes To Ban UN Aid Agency UNRWA From Operating

Israel’s parliament has voted to pass legislation prohibiting the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) from operating within Israel and in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, with implementation set to begin within three months.

This decision will also ban contact between UNRWA employees and Israeli officials, significantly hindering the agency’s operations in both Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Cooperation with the Israeli military, which controls all access points into Gaza, is critical for UNRWA to deliver humanitarian aid to the region, as it is the primary UN organization active on the ground there.

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Under the new legislation, UNRWA staff will lose their legal immunity in Israel, and the agency’s headquarters in East Jerusalem will be closed. Several countries, including the US, UK, and Germany, have expressed deep concern over this decision. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the move as “totally wrong,” while UNRWA’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, stated it “will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians.”

The US State Department emphasized UNRWA’s “critical” role in providing humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, where nearly the entire population of over two million relies on the agency for support and services.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that “UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable,” but stressed the importance of ensuring “sustained humanitarian aid” remains available in Gaza. He stated on X that Israel is ready to collaborate with international partners to facilitate humanitarian aid while ensuring its own security.

Israel has long opposed UNRWA, claiming that its employees have colluded with Hamas in Gaza. Following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, Israel alleged that 19 UNRWA workers were involved, prompting a UN investigation that resulted in the dismissal of nine staff members. However, the UN concluded that Israel had not provided sufficient evidence to support its broader claims, while UNRWA maintains that any interactions with Hamas are solely to facilitate its humanitarian mission.

The Knesset approved the two bills with a significant majority on Monday evening. Yuli Edelstein, chairman of the Knesset’s foreign affairs and security committee, accused UNRWA of serving as a “cover for terrorist actions,” claiming a deep connection between the agency and Hamas that Israel cannot tolerate.

UNRWA, which stands for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, has been providing essential services, including healthcare and education, to millions of Palestinians in Gaza for decades. Since the onset of conflict last year, its presence has become vital for delivering humanitarian supplies to civilians, who overwhelmingly rely on aid for their survival.

Lazzarini condemned the ban as “unprecedented,” asserting that it contradicts the UN Charter and violates Israel’s obligations under international law. He warned that the ban would deprive over 650,000 children in Gaza of their education, jeopardizing an entire generation.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk noted that “the Israeli military is subjecting an entire population to bombing, siege, and risk of starvation.” Many Palestinians believe the Israeli military is implementing a “surrender or starve” strategy in northern Gaza, aiming to displace around 400,000 civilians southward while laying siege to any remaining Hamas fighters.

The Israeli military denies such claims, stating it is focused on ensuring the safety of civilians. Israel launched its campaign against Hamas in response to the October 7 attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 42,710 people have died in the territory since the conflict escalated.

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