Israel has officially informed the United Nations that it is cancelling the agreement regulating its relationship with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), a partnership that had been in place since 1967. This decision follows Israeli legislation passed last month, which bans UNRWA from operating in Israel and prevents Israeli authorities from cooperating with the organization.
UNRWA provides aid, education, and services to millions of Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Israel has been critical of the agency, accusing it of perpetuating the refugee issue and alleging that it harbors anti-Israel bias. Since the start of the Gaza war in October last year, Israel has also accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas, specifically pointing to claims that some UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
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While the new Israeli law does not directly prohibit UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza, areas internationally considered outside the state of Israel but under Israeli occupation, it severely impacts the organization’s ability to work there. This move has raised concerns among international aid organizations and many of Israel’s Western allies, fearing it could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Israeli foreign ministry stated that it would enhance activities by other international organizations and work to develop alternatives to UNRWA, preparing for a full disengagement from the agency.
