The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East issued a strongly worded warning that the recent ban by Israel on its humanitarian operations may jeopardize the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. UNRWA has been at the forefront of providing essential aid to Palestinian refugees for over 70 years.
The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, described the agency as “a lifeline” for nearly six million refugees across Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The tension mounted after Israel accused UNRWA of serving as a cover for Hamas, allegations the agency has strongly denied. It has not provided evidence to substantiate such claims.
Legislation imposed by Israel, which came into force on Thursday, cut ties with UNRWA and hamstring its efforts to provide such critical services in the aftermath of 15 months of fighting in Gaza. The restrictions ban UNRWA from any activity on Israeli territory and forbid all contact with Israeli officials.
Juliette Touma, a UNRWA spokesperson, further called the ceasefire into question when she said, “If UNRWA is not allowed to continue to bring and distribute supplies, then the fate of this very fragile ceasefire is going to be at risk.”
The UK, France, and Germany have condemned the moves by Israel as a source of “grave concern” while calling on the government to work with international partners to ensure continuous humanitarian operations.
“It is a nightmare scenario,” said UNRWA’s spokesperson Jonathan Fowler, adding that 5,000 staff in Gaza were critical to continuing assistance. “Our biggest fear is there is no plan B,” he said.
Meanwhile, despite the ban, UN clinics remain operating in the occupied West Bank, UN chief Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, adding that Israel has not renewed visas for several UNRWA workers.
Meanwhile, Norway pledged $24 million to UNRWA, with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide saying that “assistance has never been more crucial as catastrophic conditions in the Gaza Strip reach new heights”. Turkiye’s condemnation of Israel’s ban describes it as “a blatant breach of international law.”
Israel’s Supreme Court upheld the ban recently but stipulated later it applies only to operations on the Israeli sovereign territory, thus making room for what UNRWA does in the Gaza and the West Bank; Palestinian human rights group Adalah criticized the law for having disastrous humanitarian consequences.
