Israel Set to Ban UNRWA, Facing International Backlash
A proposed bill in the Israeli Knesset aimed at banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within Israel has sparked a diplomatic row, drawing condemnation from several countries and the US, CNN reports.
The bill, spearheaded by Israeli MP Yulia Malinovsky, would prohibit any Israeli official from engaging with UNRWA staff and deny the agency access to Israel. The Israeli government alleges that some UNRWA staff have ties to Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza. However, UNRWA vehemently denies these accusations.
US Ambassador Jacob Lew has reportedly lobbied Israeli opposition leaders, including Avigdor Lieberman, Yair Lapid, and Benny Gantz, to block the bill. Malinovsky has condemned the US pressure as unacceptable.
The US State Department, while declining to comment on private diplomatic conversations, has expressed concern, stating that the bill would cripple UNRWA’s operations, leaving a “vacuum that Israel would then be responsible for filling.”
The bill has also drawn criticism from other international partners. Foreign ministers from Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the UK have expressed “grave concern,” emphasizing the vital role UNRWA plays in providing critical services such as education, healthcare, and fuel distribution in Gaza and the West Bank.
The proposed legislation comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and the UN, fueled by the recent war in Gaza. Last week, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the killing of a Hamas commander who was also employed by UNRWA. This prompted a public rebuke from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who condemned Israel’s actions.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz retorted, accusing Guterres of hypocrisy and insensitivity.
Supporters of the bill argue that UNRWA has become too closely aligned with Hamas and that its presence in Israel poses a security threat.
Opponents, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, maintain that UNRWA played a role in the recent Hamas attack on Israel, allowing the group to launch attacks from its facilities.
With strong support in the Knesset, the bill is expected to pass this week.
