Israeli Lawmakers Poised to Ban UNRWA Operations in Israel, Restrict Aid in Gaza and West Bank

Archive/Al Jazeera.

Lawmakers in Israel are anticipated to vote on two significant pieces of legislation this Monday that would effectively prohibit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating within the country.

These laws would also impose substantial restrictions on the agency’s activities in both Gaza and the West Bank, fundamentally altering the landscape of humanitarian aid in the region.

The first bill, which has garnered support from various members of the Knesset, is sponsored by Yisrael Beytenu MK Yulia Malinovsky, alongside Likud lawmaker Dan Illouz and others.

This legislation aims to prohibit any state authorities from engaging in contact or collaboration with UNRWA, effectively severing ties between the Israeli government and the agency that has long been involved in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees.

The second bill, spearheaded by Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, seeks to undermine the operational capacity of UNRWA by revoking a crucial agreement established in 1967 that has historically allowed the agency to function within Israeli territory.

By dismantling this foundational agreement, the legislation would create significant barriers for UNRWA, making it exceedingly difficult for the organization to continue its work in the region.

Al Jazeera.