Israel Implements Ban on UNRWA, Raising Concerns for Humanitarian Aid
A controversial ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has come into effect in Israel, significantly impacting the organization’s ability to deliver crucial aid in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera reports.
The law, passed in October, prohibits UNRWA from operating on Israeli territory, including occupied East Jerusalem, and bars any contact with Israeli authorities.
The move has sparked international concern, with UNRWA officials warning of potentially devastating consequences for humanitarian efforts in the region. For over 70 years, UNRWA has been a vital source of support for Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, providing essential services like education, healthcare, and emergency relief. However, the organization has faced repeated criticism and clashes with Israeli officials over its operations.
Israel has consistently accused UNRWA employees of involvement in the October 7 attacks, although it has failed to provide concrete evidence to support these claims. Despite a UN investigation led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna which concluded in April 2024 that found “neutrality related issues” but presented no evidence of involvement in the attacks, the accusations have continued. Prior to the ban coming into effect, Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein stated that humanitarian aid did not require UNRWA involvement and that “alternative” organizations could facilitate aid to Gaza.
A petition by the human rights group Adalah challenging the ban was rejected by Israel’s Supreme Court on Wednesday. While the court affirmed the ban’s application to Israeli sovereign territory, it clarified that the legislation does not extend to operations within the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma voiced alarm about the implications of the ban, telling the news outlet that the measure could severely disrupt operations and potentially collapse the ceasefire by hindering the flow of humanitarian supplies for the agency and the populations it serves. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini recently told the UN Security Council that the agency has been responsible for delivering two-thirds of all food assistance and has provided shelter to over one million displaced persons since October 2023.
Since its creation in 1949, UNRWA has been deeply intertwined with the hope of millions of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. The agency employs some 30,000 staff, mostly Palestinian refugees, alongside a small number of international personnel, providing services to at least 5.9 million Palestinians in the region.
