Israel’s Parliament Bans UNRWA Operations, Sparking Aid Concerns for Gaza

The Israeli parliament has approved legislation that prohibits the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) from conducting operations inside Israel and occupied East Jerusalem. The move comes amid accusations that the organization collaborates with Hamas in Gaza. Within three months, interactions between Unrwa personnel and Israeli authorities will be forbidden, significantly hindering the agency’s operational capacity in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Collaboration with the Israeli military, which manages all entry points into Gaza, is vital for Unrwa to deliver assistance to the region. Unrwa serves as the primary UN entity active in the area. Multiple nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have voiced profound apprehension regarding this decision. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, called upon Israel to reconsider the prohibition, stating that Unrwa is “irreplaceable” at present for providing humanitarian aid in Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, commented that the new legislation threatens to render Unrwa’s “essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza”. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked that the action would lead to “devastating consequences for Palestine refugees”. Nearly the entire population of the enclave, exceeding two million individuals, relies on the agency for assistance and services. However, Israel has maintained its objections to Unrwa for decades, with its opposition growing stronger in recent years. Israel asserts that Unrwa staff have collaborated with Hamas in Gaza and alleged that 19 Unrwa employees participated in the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023. The UN conducted an investigation into Israel’s assertion and dismissed nine of the individuals implicated, but stated that Israel had not furnished evidence for more extensive accusations. Unrwa maintains that its interactions with Hamas are solely to facilitate the agency’s operational duties. The allegations against Unrwa led numerous Western nations, including the US and UK, to suspend their funding earlier this year; however, the majority have since resumed their support. The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, passed the two legislative proposals with an overwhelming majority on Monday evening. Furthermore, the new legislation will result in Unrwa personnel losing their legal immunity within Israel, and the agency’s main office in East Jerusalem will be shut down. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that “Unrwa workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable”, but also noted that “sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza”. He added 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.” During the presentation of the legislation, Yuli Edelstein, who chairs the Knesset’s foreign affairs and security committee, accused Unrwa of serving as a “cover for terrorist actions”. He declared in parliament, “There is a deep connection between the terrorist organisation (Hamas) and Unrwa, and Israel cannot put up with it.” Unrwa, formally known as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, has for decades delivered various services and assistance, including healthcare and education, to millions of Palestinians in Gaza. Since the conflict began last year, the agency’s direct presence has rendered it an indispensable component of initiatives to deliver humanitarian provisions to civilians, nearly all of whom rely on assistance for their survival. Approximately two-and-half 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 are carrying out military operations against Hamas combatants, hundreds of thousands of individuals are enduring progressively dire circumstances. Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, stated on Friday that “the Israeli military is subjecting an entire population to bombing, siege and risk of starvation”. A significant number of Palestinians hold the belief that the Israeli military is executing a “surrender or starve” strategy in northern Gaza. This plan, they contend, would involve the compulsory relocation of all an estimated 400,000 civilians from that area to the south, subsequently followed by a blockade of any remaining Hamas fighters. The Israeli military has refuted the existence of such a plan and asserts that Israel implements measures to reduce civilian casualties, such as issuing evacuation directives. Israel initiated a campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas following its 7 October attack on Israel, an incident in which approximately 1,200 individuals lost their lives and 251 others were abducted. Since that time, at least 42,924 people have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants in its statistics.