The Israeli Knesset recently passed two bills that would ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and likely scale back aid distribution in Gaza. The first bill makes it illegal for Israeli officials to have contact with UNRWA, while the second prohibits UNRWA from conducting activities within Israel’s borders. This move comes after accusations that UNRWA staff members were involved in attacks on southern Israel in 2023.
UNRWA, established in 1949, provides education, healthcare, social services, and emergency relief to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Over the past 70 years, it has supported roughly six million Palestinians. In 2021, almost 545,000 children were enrolled in UNRWA schools, and 1.7 million received life-saving humanitarian assistance.
The organization offers primary healthcare to Palestinian refugees, with clinics seeing about 8.5 million patient visits annually. UNRWA also provides social services, including programs to help women enter the workforce, support people with disabilities, and run skills training programs. Additionally, UNRWA employs over 3,300 healthcare staff and offers employment opportunities to Palestinians who staff its centers.
Despite these services, Israeli authorities have accused UNRWA of involvement in attacks, leading to funding cuts and international pressure. The bills passed by the Knesset will make it difficult for UNRWA to operate in Israeli-controlled areas, affecting millions of Palestinians in need of humanitarian aid and support.
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