UNITED NATIONS — On Tuesday, the United Nations underscored that if Israel enacts new legislation that severs ties with the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, the Israeli government will still have obligations under international law to meet the needs of the Palestinian population.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asserted that UNRWA stands as the sole U.N. entity dedicated to this cause. The agency has played a crucial role during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned that the proposed Israeli legislation “will have a devastating impact on the humanitarian situation” within the Palestinian territories.
Additionally, other U.N. bodies focusing on health, children, and migration emphasized that UNRWA provides essential support in Gaza, where many individuals depend on emergency food assistance amidst the prolonged conflict, which has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives and significant destruction in the region.
The U.N. expressed appreciation for the broad support for UNRWA from both allied and opposing nations. Dujarric noted that “we would very much appreciate efforts by any member state to help us get over this hurdle.”
Israeli officials have accused some of the 13,000 personnel affiliated with UNRWA in Gaza of having connections to Hamas and claimed to have discovered military assets of Hamas within or beneath the agency’s facilities, particularly citing the attacks on October 7, 2023, that triggered the current conflict.
Recent legislation from Israel could hinder UNRWA’s operations, isolating the nation from other U.N. members. Even the United States, Israel’s closest ally, joined various countries and humanitarian organizations in opposing this legislation, which will not take effect for three months.
Guterres communicated his concerns regarding this development to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting issues related to international law, as mentioned by Dujarric. As an occupying entity, Israel is held to international humanitarian standards mandating that it ensure the fundamental needs of Palestinians are met, including food, healthcare, and education. If Israel cannot fulfill these needs, it is obligated to allow and facilitate UNRWA and other humanitarian efforts to step in.
According to Dujarric, “Should UNRWA cease to operate — and for us there is no alternative — Israel would have to fill the vacuum.” He cautioned that failing to do so would put Israel in violation of international law.
In response, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon remarked that instead of holding UNRWA accountable for alleged cooperation with terrorism, the U.N. chooses to criticize Israel. He described UNRWA as an ineffective entity that serves as an “arm of Hamas” cloaked as a U.N. organization. “Israel will continue to facilitate humanitarian aid in Gaza according to international law,” he asserted, arguing that UNRWA’s failure means it is no longer suited for its mission.
The World Health Organization’s spokesperson, Tarik Jasarevic, highlighted that UNRWA has facilitated more than 6 million medical consultations in the past year, providing immunizations and disease surveillance, a level of assistance that “couldn’t be matched by any agency — including WHO.”
U.N. human rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence remarked that without UNRWA, vital services such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education for most of Gaza’s population would come to a standstill. Established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1949, UNRWA was designed to support Palestinians who were displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as their descendants.
During the U.N. Security Council’s recent meeting on the Middle East, which was open to all U.N. members, many participants voiced support for UNRWA while condemning Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with numerous calls for immediate cease-fires.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed significant concern over the newly proposed Israeli legislation, stating, “right now there is no alternative to UNRWA when it comes to delivering food and other life-saving aid in Gaza.” She urged Guterres to establish a system for reviewing allegations regarding UNRWA staff’s connections to terrorist organizations.
U.N. spokesman Dujarric confirmed that the U.N.’s internal auditing body is currently investigating these concerns. A letter from the Israeli government outlining specific undisclosed issues is also being taken “extremely seriously.”
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller took it a step further, warning that the legislation could pose substantial risks for millions of Palestinians relying on UNRWA for essential support. He reiterated America’s opposition to the Israeli laws and indicated that discussions on the matter would take place in the coming days, citing potential consequences under U.S. law and policy should the legislation be enacted. This was emphasized by a letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which indicated that unless humanitarian aid increases, Israel may jeopardize its military assistance.