UNITED NATIONS — On Wednesday, the leader of the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees appealed to the global community to take action against an Israeli ban that could lead to “disastrous consequences” for millions affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), urged the 193 nations of the U.N. General Assembly to intervene to prevent Israel from enforcing new legislation that would prohibit the agency’s operations within Palestinian territories. This law, passed by the Israeli parliament last month, is scheduled to come into effect in 90 days.
UNRWA was established in 1949 by the General Assembly to provide assistance to Palestinians who were displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict and to their descendants. The agency’s role continues until a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is reached.
Currently, UNRWA serves as the primary distributor of humanitarian aid in Gaza, where nearly the entire population of approximately 2.3 million Palestinians relies on aid as a result of Israel’s prolonged military operations against Hamas. With dire levels of hunger reported among the population, the agency’s assistance is crucial.
Philemon Yang, the President of the Assembly, spoke at an informal meeting, condemning Israel’s recently passed legislation as an “intolerable affront” to the authority of the assembly itself, to international law, and to the dignity of innocent Palestinian civilians.
Yang also highlighted that the General Assembly had recently renewed UNRWA’s mandate, with last approval in December 2022, extending it until June 30, 2026. He urgently called upon Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, the U.N. Charter, and relevant U.N. resolutions.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated that there is no substitute for UNRWA, and Yang emphasized that ceasing its operations would worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Israel has accused a small fraction of UNRWA’s workforce in Gaza of being involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks instigated by Hamas, which triggered the current war. The Israeli government has provided the U.N. with over 100 names of UNRWA staff alleged to have connections to militant groups.
In response, UNRWA has denied knowingly supporting armed factions and stated that it takes prompt action to eliminate any individuals among its employees with militant affiliations. Lazzarini mentioned that the agency had reached out to Israel for clarification on the allegations to facilitate an investigation but has yet to receive any detailed information.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon reiterated the accusations that UNRWA harbors Hamas sympathizers and promotes hostile sentiments among Palestinian children. He stated firmly that the future of Gaza should not involve either Hamas or UNRWA.
Danon also condemned the General Assembly and other U.N. bodies for failing to denounce Hamas’s actions or to convene any discussions focused on hostages taken during the conflict.
Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour voiced his concerns regarding Israel’s actions against UNRWA, alleging that the government is engaged in an “open assault” on the agency aimed at abolishing Palestinian refugee status and rights, stressing the urgent need for countries to act together to protect UNRWA. “As we gather here, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are facing imminent death,” he remarked concerning the crisis in northern Gaza.
Acting U.N. humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya reported that northern Gaza has been subjected to “a near-total brutal siege” over the past month, with Palestinian civilians facing starvation while the international community looks on. “These atrocities must stop,” she appealed in a post on social media. She described the severe impact of Israeli military operations, which have devastated the availability of essential survival resources and forced civilians to flee repeatedly while cutting off evacuation and supply routes.
Lebanon’s U.N. Ambassador Hadi Hachem, representing the 22-member Arab Group, called upon the General Assembly to take immediate action to resist what he labeled a “dangerous precedent” set by Israel, emphasizing the urgent need to defend UNRWA and uphold international law.