The US and British governments have urged Israel to reconsider its move to ban the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa from operating in Israel and curtailing its activities in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Knesset voted on Monday evening 92-10 to approve two bills, one banning Unrwa operatives from Israeli territory, and another banning state authorities from having any contact with the agency. The legislation will come into effect in 90 days.
Since October 7, the Israeli government has accused Unrwa of employing terrorists involved in the attacks as well as encouraging hate towards Israelis. But it is the main UN agency working on the ground in Gaza, responsible for delivering education, healthcare and aid to millions of Palestinians in the Strip as well as those descended from Palestinians in other parts of the region.
In August this year, the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services found at least nine individuals employed by Unrwa had been involved in the attack, after concluding an investigation into the alleged involvement of 19 Unrwa staff members. Israel alleges that more than 10 per cent of the agency’s staffers in Gaza have ties to terrorist factions, a charge that the organisation has denied. Israel also claims that educational facilities under Unrwa’s auspices promote hatred of Israel and glorify terrorism.
Following the vote, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would ensure that humanitarian aid would reach Gazan civilians in the 90 days before the law is implemented.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “The UK is gravely concerned at the Unrwa bills that Israel’s Knesset has passed. This legislation risks making Unrwa‘s essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank.”
He repeated calls for “an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages and a significant increase in aid to Gaza”. Starmer continued: “Under its international obligations, Israel must ensure sufficient aid reaches civilians in Gaza. Only Unrwa can deliver humanitarian aid at the scale and pace needed. We pay tribute to the 222 Unrwa staff who have lost their lives in the conflict. Unrwa has a UN mandate to support Palestinian refugees. We urge Israeli lawmakers to ensure that Unrwa can continue to deliver its essential work”, the prime minister said.
One of Labour’s earliest actions in government was to restore funding to the controversial agency. Under the Conservatives, the UK was one of several countries that stopped funding Unrwa in January 2024 after Israel accused its employees of participating in the October 7 attacks and subsequent violence.
Before the passing of the bills, the US State Department said it was “deeply concerned” by the proposed legislation. “Unrwa plays a critical, important role in delivering humanitarian assistance to civilians that need it in Gaza,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “There’s nobody that can replace them right now in the middle of the crisis.”
The US State Department added: “Unrwa has also long been an organisation in need of reform. We support steps to strengthen Unrwa impartiality and neutrality, including to respond to allegations of ties to terrorism.”
Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark told the JC: “We didn’t allow Oxfam to carry on its operations when abusive men were discovered in its ranks. Unrwa should be treated the same: expel the culprits; change the culture; condition the funding. Turning a blind eye is not acceptable even without Israeli plans. We all accept Gaza needs aid. The US has found alternative delivery means for some humanitarian support. It’s not beyond the wit of ministers and international community to find other means of delivery.”
