Israeli parliament passes bill to halt UN relief agency

Israel has passed a bill in parliament to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, within three months. The UN has expressed deep concern. At the same time, many countries, including the United States, have reacted.

Despite opposition from the international community, Israeli MPs have voted in favor of passing two bills on the issue. As a result, UNRWA will be banned from operating in Israel, occupied East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

The largest UN agency plays a key role in building shelters and distributing aid during the war in Gaza. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini strongly condemned such a ban on his agency, calling it unprecedented.

He said it was a violation of the UN Charter and international law. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the “catastrophic consequences” of the law if it goes into effect.

The US State Department said UNRWA had played a vital role in delivering aid to the Gaza Strip and that “no one else can replace them at this time”.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “deeply concerned” that the new law would put the international community’s aid delivery efforts in Gaza at risk. Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Spain and Norway, among other countries, have reacted similarly.

Israel has long alleged that UNRWA staff were working with Hamas in Gaza.

The agency’s staff were also involved in the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

The UN later investigated and identified nine people from the agency who were found to have links to the attack.

The UN’s deputy spokesman Farhan Haq announced their dismissal in August. A journalist in Gaza said that most of the displaced refugees in Gaza depend on UNRWA food aid. UNRWA provides most of the relief aid in Gaza. Israel’s sanctions will destroy their humanitarian work.