Israel bans UNRWA, striking blow to an already crippled aid supply in Gaza

New Delhi, Oct 29: In a defiance to the international community, Israel has passed a legislation banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in territories under Israel's control

The legislation, passed on Monday, risks collapsing the already fragile aid distribution process at a moment when the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, and Israel is under increased pressure to allow in aid supplies.

The ban is set to take effect in 90 days and lead to the closure of UNRWA’s premises in the occupied Palestinian territory – the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem – and Gaza, effectively paralysing the agency’s ability to fulfil its mandate as set out by the UN General Assembly in 1949.

UNRWA is the leading agency running humanitarian aid in Gaza, which has been devastated by more than a year of Israel’s war. Hundreds of UNRWA workers have been killed in Israeli strikes, making it the deadliest conflict for UN workers.

The first law, which bans UNRWA from conducting “any activity” or providing any service inside Israel, passed 92-10 following a fiery debate between supporters of the bill and its opponents.

The second legislation, which declares UNRWA a “terror” group and bans Israeli officials from any contact with the agency, passed 87-9.

UNRWA ban is latest in Israel’s attacks on ‘the UN as a whole’: Legal expert

UNRWA’s former General Counsel Lex Takkenberg told Al Jazeera that the move to ban the key UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees was the latest attack by Israel on the entire UN system and a strong response was now necessary.

“We should also consider that these legislative attacks come on top of numerous other attacks on the UN as a whole,” Takkenberg said, noting that Israel had attacked the UN secretary-general and had also urged the closure of the UN General Assembly.

“It’s really reaching a point that the principal organs of the United Nations – the Security Council and the General Assembly – have really no choice but to take strong action,” Takkenberg said.

“Under international humanitarian law, if Israel prevents UNRWA from operating its schools, its health centres and its other critical services – Israel is under a legal obligation to provide those services itself,” he said.

“This was one of the key reasons why, in 1967, Israel requested UNRWA to continue its operations in Gaza and West Bank, because Israel knew that otherwise, it would have to make provisions for this,” Takkenberg added.

“So I think Israel has moved itself into a very difficult political and legal corner and it will be very critical to see how the leadership in the UN, including the General Assembly and the Security Council, will deal with this.”

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini also condemned the ban, calling it "unprecedented" and asserting that it contravenes Israel’s obligations under international law.

Before the legislation was passed, foreign ministers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom issued a statement expressing “grave concern”.

“It is crucial that UNRWA and other UN organisations and agencies be fully able to deliver humanitarian aid and their assistance to those who need it most, fulfilling their mandates effectively,” the statement said.

UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies have accused Israel of severely restricting aid flow into Gaza, where almost all of the enclave’s 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once since October last year. More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health officials.

Israeli forces have continued to shut vital border crossings, including the Rafah crossing, banning the entry of humanitarian aid including food, medicine, and much-needed fuel from entering the bombarded territory. In Gaza’s north, a total siege for more than 20 days has left hospitals on the brink of collapse and some 400,000 people without access to basic necessities.

UNRWA itself has suffered heavy losses since last year, with at least 233 of its team members killed and two-thirds of the agency’s facilities in Gaza damaged or destroyed since the war began.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose administration has restricted aid into Gaza, pledged to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians after the ban.

‘A dangerous precedent’

The UNRWA head said the ban set “a dangerous precedent” and would “only deepen the suffering of Palestinians”.

“This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA… These bills will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians,” the agency’s chief Philippe Lazzarini said on X.

Earlier, a UNRWA spokesperson decried the move as “outrageous”.

“It’s outrageous that a member state of the United Nations is working to dismantle a UN agency which also happens to be the largest responder in the humanitarian operation in Gaza,” Juliette Touma told the AFP news agency.

The media adviser to UNRWA, Adnan Abu Hasna, said Israel’s decision to ban the organisation would mean the collapse of the humanitarian process as a whole.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Hasna described the decision as an “unprecedented” escalation.

The UN agency has provided essential aid and assistance across Palestinian territory – including the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, as well as to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria – for more than seven decades.

It has for years been subject to harsh Israeli criticism, which escalated after the start of Israel’s ongoing deadly assault on the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian presidency condemned the ban, saying it would not allow such a move.

Background on UNRWA and Donor Support

Established in 1949, UNRWA was created to assist Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza. It has become one of the primary UN agencies serving Palestinian communities, offering healthcare, education, and emergency assistance services.

Today, over 5 million Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA, with around 2.5 million residing in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. Since its inception, UNRWA has been funded almost exclusively by voluntary donations from UN member states.

The United States, European Union countries, and Japan have been the primary donors, though in recent years, several Gulf nations have stepped in to fill funding gaps left by shifting U.S. policies.

India's Role and Humanitarian Assistance

India’s involvement with UNRWA has traditionally focused on financial aid and humanitarian support for Palestinians. Since October 2023, India has actively responded to the escalating conflict in Gaza by supplying vital aid to Palestinians through UNRWA. Just recently, India dispatched 30 tons of medicine, food items, and essential medical supplies. This consignment, comprising high-energy biscuits, surgical supplies, and general medical items, highlights India's commitment to humanitarian assistance. Additionally, India's longstanding support for a two-state solution has shaped its diplomatic stance, advocating for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.