The Israeli parliament has recently passed two controversial bills aimed at prohibiting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating within Israel and its controlled areas. This Israeli ban on UNRWA operations, set to take effect in 90 days, threatens to disrupt the already tricky aid distribution system, especially as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies. The new laws could result in the closure of UNRWA facilities in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, limiting the agency’s mandate to fulfill its duties.
UNRWA has been critical in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, which has suffered extensively due to the ongoing war. The first law bans UNRWA from conducting any activity within Israeli territory, passing with a significant majority of 92 -10. Supporters and opponents mainly members of Arab parliamentary parties then engaged in a debate. The second law states UNRWA as a terrorist group, making it illegal for Israeli officials to engage with the agency, garnering a vote of 87-9.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, condemned the legislation, calling it a dangerous precedent that would exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians. Earlier, UNRWA representatives described the move as outrageous. Adnan Abu Hasna, a media adviser of UNRWA, emphasized that the ban would collapse the humanitarian process.
Furthermore, the Palestinian presidency denounced the ban, stating it would not permit such a legislative action. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman for the presidency in Ramallah, noted that the overwhelming support in the Knesset reflects Israel’s alarming shift towards fascism. The UNRWA operations raise concerns over 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza risk losing essential services, including healthcare and education.
Internationally, the United States and the European Union have expressed concerns about the new laws. The US State Department highlighted the critical role of UNRWA in delivering humanitarian assistance. The US stated that it was concerned about the bill. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters “We have made quite clear to the government of Israel that we are deeply concerned by this.” The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, warned that the ban significantly impedes the operations in Gaza. As Israel restricts aid flow, the situation in Gaza counties worsens.
