Israel passes legislation banning UNRWA operations in country

Israeli lawmakers passed legislation on Monday that threatens the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by prohibiting it from functioning within Israeli territory, according to The Associated Press.

The bill, which passed with a vote of 92-10, restricts the agency from conducting any activities or providing services in Israel, raising concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 1.9 million Palestinians are already displaced and facing severe shortages of food, water, and medicine.

This legislation, set to take effect at a later date, could further undermine the fragile aid distribution process at a time when Israel is under increasing pressure from the United States to enhance humanitarian assistance to the region.

The vote followed heated debates, primarily between supporters of the law and members of Arab parliamentary parties who opposed it. In addition, a second bill aimed at severing diplomatic ties with UNRWA was also on the agenda for a vote.

Collectively, these measures represent a significant escalation in tensions between Israel and the UN agency, which Israel accuses of having close connections with Hamas militants.

Should these bills become law, they would severely impact the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, exacerbating the plight of Palestinians who rely on UNRWA for assistance amid ongoing conflict.