Jerusalem: In a significant move, Israel has officially informed the United Nations of its decision to cancel the agreement that has governed its relationship with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) since 1967.
As announced by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the decision follows recent legislation passed by the Israeli parliament, which prohibits UNRWA from operating within Israel and halts cooperation between Israeli authorities and the agency.
UNRWA plays a crucial role in providing aid and educational services to millions of Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Israel has long voiced concerns regarding UNRWA, which was established in the aftermath of the 1948 war during Israel’s founding. The Israeli government has accused the agency of harbouring anti-Israel sentiments and claimed that it contributes to the perpetuation of the conflict by maintaining Palestinians in a state of prolonged refugee status.
Additionally, since the onset of the Gaza war in October of last year, Israeli officials have alleged that UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas, with accusations that some staff may have participated in attacks against Israel.
Following the legislation on UNRWA, the State of Israel officially notified the President of the General Assembly of the termination of cooperation with the agency. Despite the overwhelming evidence we submitted to the UN that substantiate Hamas’ infiltration of UNRWA, the UN did… pic.twitter.com/UUti6zZrOT
— Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) November 4, 2024
The cancellation of the agreement has raised alarms among United Nations officials and some Western allies of Israel, who worry that this action could exacerbate the already critical humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in conflict with Hamas militants for the past year.
Although the legislation does not specifically ban UNRWA’s operations in the Palestinian territories, it poses significant challenges to the agency’s ability to function effectively in those areas.
Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, expressed frustration over the situation, stating that despite presenting substantial evidence of Hamas’s infiltration into UNRWA, the United Nations failed to take appropriate action.
In response to these developments, the Israeli foreign ministry indicated that it plans to enhance the activities of other international organizations while working to establish alternatives to UNRWA.
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