From chronic underfunding to accusations by Israeli officials that it perpetuates Palestinian displacement, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has faced threats to its existence for decades.
Now, Knesset lawmakers are set to vote this week on two bills to prevent UNRWA from operating within Israeli territory, following allegations that agency staff were involved in the October 7, 2023, terror attacks. That would also severely curtail UNRWA's ability to operate in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The bills, approved by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on October 6, would prohibit state authorities from having any contact with UNRWA and effectively ban the agency from operating within Israeli territory, including annexed East Jerusalem, by revoking the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA that has facilitated the agency's operations and interactions with government authorities.
Knesset members from the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party sponsored the bills.
The legislation is expected to lead to the closure of UNRWA's headquarters in annexed East Jerusalem, which serves as the management and administrative hub for all its activities in the Palestinian territories. According to Israeli media reports, the premises would be converted into housing.
The no-contact policy means that Israel would no longer issue work and entry permits to international and local UNRWA staff or allow any coordination with the Israeli military, which is essential for the passage of aid into Gaza........