Israel Enforces Ban on UNRWA Operations Amid Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
On January 30, 2024, new laws went into effect in Israel that prohibit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from conducting operations within the country. These laws, passed by a significant majority in the Knesset in October 2023, are comprehensive in scope, barring all Israeli entities from collaborating with UNRWA in any capacity. While the laws officially apply within Israeli territory, their impact is expected to reach the militarily occupied Palestinian territories, including much of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The immediate ramifications of this blockade have already begun to surface. The Israeli government has not renewed the visas of 25 international UNRWA employees—individuals of non-Israeli and non-Palestinian nationality—forcing them to leave the country in the coming days. However, there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding the application of these laws in both Israel and the occupied territories. Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for UNRWA, expressed her concerns to the Guardian: "We know nothing. We have not received any instruction from Israel on how the laws will be implemented apart from the order to leave." Despite the blockade, UNRWA has stated its intention to persist with its operations in East Jerusalem.
UNRWA plays a critical role in delivering humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, an area whose borders are under Israeli control. Therefore, the enforcement of these laws poses a significant risk to the agency's ability to manage essential aid deliveries within the region. While UNRWA has made it clear that it will not withdraw from Gaza and intends for its remaining employees to continue working there, without the necessary permits, the influx of other UNRWA personnel into the Strip has been effectively halted.
A key concern is the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, which is heavily reliant on UNRWA's logistical support. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas permits hundreds of trucks filled with aid to enter the Strip daily. However, without UNRWA's involvement in coordinating this aid, there are increasing doubts about the efficiency and effectiveness of these deliveries to the beleaguered Palestinian civilian population.
The Israeli government's strategy regarding the enforcement of the collaboration ban appears to lack clarity as well. During a recent hearing in the Knesset, officials from the Bank of Israel were unable to clarify whether the prohibition extended to banks operating in the country. Reports have surfaced indicating that Bank Leumi has already blocked $28 million from UNRWA’s accounts.
Moreover, the Israeli military remains ambiguous about its ability to collaborate with UNRWA during critical situations where lives are endangered, such as during rescue operations.
UNRWA provides essential services to approximately 6 million Palestinian refugees throughout the Middle East, with nearly 1.7 million residing in the Gaza Strip and around 870,000 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The agency's responsibilities encompass the management of schools, clinics, and other vital facilities across the region.
The Knesset's approval for these restrictive laws followed a series of accusations against some UNRWA employees, alleging their involvement in the tragic events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis. These accusations led several Western nations to temporarily suspend their funding to UNRWA, a decision that has since been reversed. UNRWA conducted its own internal investigations, leading to the dismissal of some employees while consistently denying any collusion with Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has been vocal in its opposition to UNRWA for years, viewing it as an exclusive UN agency catering to Palestinian refugees and as a symbol closely associated with the Palestinian identity—an aspect that raises concerns among segments of the Israeli right.
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