Israel passes law banning UNRWA operations in Israel and East Jerusalem, sparking global condemnation

TEL AVIV — The Israeli Knesset has passed legislation to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating within Israel and East Jerusalem, a move met with strong international condemnation, including objections from the United States.

The decision, approved by a vote of 92 to 10, triggered immediate backlash from the global community. UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a formal letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing concern over the potential consequences of the ban.

Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres’ spokesperson, underscored the critical role UNRWA plays in providing humanitarian aid in Gaza. Dujarric further noted that the law grants a 90-day window before it goes into effect, adding that UN officials are in ongoing discussions with Israeli authorities in the hope of reversing the decision.

A UNICEF spokesperson highlighted that the ban hampers the distribution of essential life-saving supplies, emphasizing that this decision could gravely impact Palestinian children. For over seven decades, UNRWA has been a key provider of food, healthcare, and education to Palestinian communities, who now fear the law will disrupt access to these vital resources.