Israel’s Knesset (parliament) has passed two laws that prohibit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within Israel and restrict Israeli authorities from engaging with the agency.

This legislation effectively nullifies the 1967 treaty that permitted UNRWA to support Palestinian refugees in territories under Israeli control, threatening access to essential resources for millions of Palestinians.

UNRWA, founded in 1949, initially aimed to assist around 750,000 displaced Palestinians following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.

Today, it serves nearly 5.9 million Palestinians across the Middle East, including 1.7 million in Gaza and over 870,000 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The agency provides critical resources—education, healthcare, food assistance, shelter, and employment—to these populations, many of whom live in densely populated refugee camps.

International leaders, including UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, strongly criticized the vote, arguing that the laws violate international statutes and hinder humanitarian work.

Although Israeli officials insist the legislation will not impact aid to Gaza, many Western nations, including the United States, have warned that the ban may disrupt critical services and stability in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned that the decision may also affect U.S.-Israeli relations.

UNRWA is distinct within the UN system as it supports a specific refugee population across defined regions.

While UNHCR handles refugee resettlement worldwide, it has no mandate over areas where UNRWA operates.

The ban threatens not only the agency’s services but also its role as a major regional employer, raising concerns about the future of Palestinian refugees under Israeli occupation.

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