JERUSALEM — On Thursday, Israel implemented a formal ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from conducting its operations within its borders. This decision has sparked significant diplomatic backlash and is raising alarms among humanitarian groups regarding its potential devastating effects on aid distribution and the long-term stability of the region. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that the ban became effective at midnight. However, the immediate impact was largely superficial, as right-wing activists climbed the walls of UNRWA’s headquarters in East Jerusalem to replace the U.N. flag with the Israeli flag.
While the UNRWA compound was notably underpopulated, with many Palestinian employees instructed to stay home for their safety and international staff having departed for Jordan due to expiring visas, its schools and medical services in East Jerusalem remained operational. UNRWA reported that normal aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip were ongoing, providing crucial support to an estimated 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, along with another 3 million situated in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, UNRWA has been indispensable for the individuals dependent on humanitarian aid.
This legislative action against UNRWA, passed by the Knesset in October, followed a series of attacks from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing associates, who assert that the agency is overly influenced by Hamas, a claim that UNRWA disputes. The law also restricts any interactions between Israeli officials and UNRWA personnel, with the Israeli government expressing a preference for collaborating with alternative U.N. agencies and NGOs.
Amidst this chaotic shift, confusion permeated the atmosphere in East Jerusalem. UNRWA and Israeli officials noted that the ban was primarily directed at the agency’s operations in the region, particularly East Jerusalem that Palestinians envision as part of their future state, but that Israel annexed following the 1967 war—a status that remains unrecognized internationally. Nonetheless, students at the Shuafat refugee camp continued to attend their UNRWA classrooms, while the head nurse at the UNRWA health center in Jerusalem reported that her clinic opened its doors as usual, despite earlier warnings of a potential shutdown.
For many families dependent on these services, the prospect of closure has incited anxiety and uncertainty. Residents voiced their fears that the cessation of UNRWA clinics and schools would lead to increased hardship for impoverished households. Contrarily, some Israeli officials advocated for the immediate closure of the agency, or a gradual phase-out in favor of alternatives.
UNRWA, established in 1949 to assist Palestinians displaced during the conflict surrounding Israel’s creation, has seen its refugee population swell to nearly 6 million over successive generations. The Israeli government maintains that the U.N. agency hinders the refugees’ assimilation into host countries and upholds the notion that they may return home one day. The Palestinians, however, assert their right to return as enshrined in international law, a claim that Israel contests, fearing it would compromise the state’s Jewish character.
Following a Hamas-led attack in October 2023, Israel accused UNRWA employees of involvement in the offensive, prompting funding freezes from numerous governments that have only recently been lifted. An independent review conducted by the U.N. later found insufficient evidence to support Israel’s allegations against UNRWA staff regarding affiliations with Hamas.
On the day of the ban, several Israeli settlers gathered to celebrate outside UNRWA’s headquarters, with some expressing joy over what they viewed as a significant victory against the agency. The deputy mayor of Jerusalem marked the occasion with celebratory gestures, suggesting that it was time for Palestinians associated with UNRWA to integrate into the wider Jerusalem population.
U.N. representatives have voiced worries over what the cessation of UNRWA will mean for ongoing humanitarian efforts, particularly regarding how it will impact aid distribution to millions in Gaza during a sensitive ceasefire period. Palestinians perceive the assault on UNRWA as an existential threat to their rights as refugees and the ongoing struggle against the loss of their right of return. According to one retired UNRWA teacher, the dismantling of the agency symbolizes a dire consequence for the Palestinian cause.
The incident also raises questions regarding international relations and the implications of a U.N. member state prohibiting the actions of a U.N. agency. Some experts believe this sets a dangerous precedent for multilateral governance, cautioning that unraveling established international cooperatives risks exacerbating conflicts far beyond the regional scope.
