Yesterday (Monday), immediately following the opening of the winter session, the Knesset passed two laws against UNRWA, which was established in 1949 to provide aid to Palestinian refugees. The laws were proposed with broad, cross-party support by Knesset members Boaz Bismuth and Dan Illouz (Likud), Sharren Haskel (New Hope), Yulia Malinovsky, and Ron Katz (Yisrael Beiteinu). The laws passed with overwhelming support, including a significant portion of the opposition, totaling 92 votes in favor.
The new laws completely prohibit UNRWA from operating within Israeli territory, including East Jerusalem, and bar any official governmental contact with the agency’s representatives. This move severely limits UNRWA’s ability to continue its work in Gaza and other areas, especially in the current wartime climate. Israel’s objection is not to aid for Palestinians but specifically to UNRWA. Consequently, the laws will take effect in 90 days, allowing relevant authorities time to establish alternative support channels for Palestinians. “This is a historic day on which the Knesset puts an end to years of farce,” said Knesset Member Dan Illouz, adding, “UNRWA is not a humanitarian organization but rather an accomplice to acts of terror.”
Israel has long had a fraught relationship with UNRWA, the only UN agency for refugees that continued operations decades after its founding. Many have accused UNRWA of perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict across generations by maintaining refugee status for Palestinians indefinitely, preventing them from taking control of their destiny and moving beyond hopes of returning to ancestral homes. Israel also has longstanding issues with UNRWA’s educational materials, which have reportedly contained anti-Israel content and incitement to violence. Over the years, UNRWA’s workforce became mostly local Palestinians, aligning the organization with the regional dynamics. In Gaza, for example, UNRWA has reportedly cooperated with Hamas, overlooking terrorist activities and allowing tunnels and command posts near its facilities. The final straw for Israel, however, was the alleged involvement of some UNRWA employees in the October 7 terror attacks. As Israel seeks to reshape Gaza, UNRWA is now seen as part of the problem, not the solution.
In response to this move, several European nations announced their intention to continue supporting UNRWA in Palestinian territories, and the UN Secretary-General issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s legislation. Additionally, Palestinian authorities are likely to appeal to international courts in an attempt to counter this decision.
