The relationship between the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and Israel is a feature of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. For decades, UNRWA has faced Israeli allegations surrounding its neutrality. It is the largest relief organization in the Gaza Strip which is currently undergoing a humanitarian crisis during the Israel–Hamas war. UNRWA was created as a United Nations agency in 1949 to support the relief of Palestinian refugees in the wake of their expulsion and flight during the 1948 Palestine war. After Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 Six-Day War, it requested that UNRWA continue its operations there, which it would facilitate.
In early 2024, Israel made a series of allegations against UNRWA, including that a number of its Gaza Strip staff had participated in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and that hundreds of them were members of militant groups.[1] The allegations led to aid cuts to the organization, most of which were later reversed with the exception of the United States, the organization's largest donor.[2][3][4] Eventually, a UN investigation found that nine UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the attack on Israel and terminated them, found that evidence against nine other staff members was insufficient, and found that there was no evidence against one additional accused staff member.[5]
In a move widely condemned, on 28 October 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed two laws, that within 3 months will ban UNRWA activities in Israel.[6][7][8][9]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Days beforewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Magramo, Kathleen; Edwards, Christian; Sangal, Aditi (22 April 2024). "UNRWA neutrality must be strengthened, independent review finds". CNN. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Borger, Julian (22 April 2024). "Israel has yet to provide evidence of Unrwa staff terrorist links, Colonna report says". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "UN chief accepts independent review of UNRWA | Reuters". Reuters. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Nine Unrwa staff members 'may have been involved' in 7 October attack". The Guardian.
- ^ "Israel approves two bills that could halt UNRWA's aid delivery to Gaza. What does that mean?". AP News. 28 October 2024.
- ^ "Knesset Approves Bills Banning UN Relief Agency UNRWA From Operating in Israel - Israel News - Haaretz.com".
- ^ "Unrwa: Israel bans UN Palestinian refugee agency, raising Gaza aid fears". www.bbc.com.
- ^ Staff, Al Jazeera. "'Intolerable', 'dangerous precedent': World condemns Israel's UNRWA ban". Al Jazeera.