JERUSALEM, Israel — In a move with potentially far-reaching consequences, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has voted to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, an organisation that has provided essential services for Palestinian refugees for nearly 75 years.
Passed on Monday, October 28, 2024, the legislation bars UNRWA from operating within Israel and forbids Israeli authorities from any contact with the agency, effectively revoking a 1967 treaty permitting the agency’s work in Israeli-controlled areas.
The decision, spearheaded by Likud member Boaz Bismuth, who likened UNRWA to Hamas, saw broad support within the Knesset.
“Anyone that behaves like a terrorist has no rights in Israel… UNRWA equals Hamas, period,” Bismuth declared after the vote.
Another bill sponsor, Yuli Edelstein, insisted the legislation would not affect humanitarian aid to Gaza and claimed Israel is acting within international law.
The implications of this legislation are significant. UNRWA provides healthcare, education, and food to millions of Palestinian refugees, including nearly 2 million in Gaza and over 850,000 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In Gaza alone, UNRWA employs over 13,000 staff and runs extensive programs, including emergency vaccinations, educational support, and food distribution to residents, half of whom live in extreme poverty.
International Backlash and Concern
The legislation has faced intense opposition from international communities. Seven foreign ministers from Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the UK expressed “grave concern” in a joint statement, highlighting UNRWA’s role in providing essential, life-saving services.
The U.S. has also opposed the ban, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken warning Israeli leaders that the move could “create a humanitarian vacuum” that Israel may be expected to fill.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres described the ban as a “catastrophe,” stressing that UNRWA is “irreplaceable” and urging Israel to reconsider.
Guterres has been declared persona non grata by Israeli officials, who accuse him of sympathising with Israel’s adversaries.
A Long-Standing Tension
Israel has long questioned UNRWA’s operations, claiming some employees have links to Hamas and that the agency perpetuates anti-Israel sentiment.
UNRWA has repeatedly denied these claims, maintaining that there is no basis for allegations of institutional bias or terror connections.
Nevertheless, this new legislation has heightened concerns that the humanitarian agency may not be able to continue its work within Palestinian refugee communities, potentially leaving millions without essential support.
