Israel's Parliament Approves Bills That May Halt UNRWA Aid Delivery to Gaza

Israel's parliament has enacted two laws that could significantly impact the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). These laws prohibit UNRWA from operating within Israel, label it a terrorist organisation, and sever all ties with the Israeli government. This move is part of a long-standing campaign against UNRWA, which Israel accuses of being infiltrated by Hamas. However, supporters argue that Israel aims to marginalise the Palestinian refugee issue.

UNRWA plays a crucial role in Gaza, providing essential services such as education and healthcare to millions of Palestinian refugees across the region, including the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Philippe Lazzarini, the agency's Commissioner General, described the legislation as "unprecedented" on X, stating it would "only deepen the suffering Palestinians, especially in Gaza where people have been going through more than a year of sheer hell."

Impact on Humanitarian Aid

The new laws severely restrict UNRWA's operations. One law bans all UNRWA activities on Israeli soil, effective in three months. The other designates UNRWA as a terrorist organisation, cutting all governmental ties and removing legal immunities for its staff. These measures could force UNRWA to relocate its headquarters from east Jerusalem and hinder its ability to operate in Israel and Palestinian territories.

Gaza's population of approximately 2.3 million relies heavily on aid for survival. Nearly 90% have been displaced, with many living in shelters run by UNRWA. Experts warn of widespread hunger. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 43,000 Palestinian deaths since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Allegations Against UNRWA

Israel accuses UNRWA of harbouring Hamas members among its staff and using its facilities for military purposes. It claims around a dozen employees participated in the October 7 attack on southern Israel. UNRWA denies knowingly aiding armed groups and asserts it takes swift action against suspected militants within its ranks.

An independent investigation earlier this year found that while UNRWA had strong mechanisms to ensure neutrality, there were gaps in implementation. These included staff expressing political views publicly and problematic content in textbooks used in UNRWA schools. Despite these findings, Israel has not provided evidence to support its claims against UNRWA staff.

Historical Context and Future Implications

UNRWA was established to assist approximately 700,000 Palestinians displaced during the 1948 war following Israel's creation. Supporters believe dismantling the agency would erase the Palestinian refugee issue. Israel argues that refugees should be resettled permanently elsewhere, suggesting ending UNRWA services would compel them to do so.

Palestinians insist that refugees and their descendants, now nearly six million, should be allowed to return home under international law. Israel opposes this, fearing a Palestinian majority within its borders. The refugee issue remains one of the most contentious aspects of the peace process, which stalled in 2009.

Other UN agencies and aid groups assert there is no substitute for UNRWA's services. The agency operates schools, health clinics, infrastructure projects, and aid programs in refugee camps across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. It also runs 96 schools serving around 47,000 students in the West Bank.

Israel is reportedly considering taking over aid distribution or subcontracting it but has not yet proposed a concrete plan. Such efforts would require significant resources at a time when Israel is engaged in conflicts on two fronts: Gaza and Lebanon.

UNRWA remains Gaza's largest employer amid economic hardships caused by Israeli and Egyptian blockades. Hamas has governed Gaza since 2007 with both civilian political operations and an armed wing. The secretive nature of militant groups complicates efforts by civilian organisations like UNRWA to vet employees effectively.

Fatah Sharif, an UNRWA teacher killed last month in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon along with his family, was later revealed to be a senior Hamas commander—a fact he had kept hidden.