(ZENIT News / Jerusalem, International City, 11.10.2024).- On November 4, Israel’s Parliament approved a controversial law blocking all United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) activities across Israel and East Jerusalem, intensifying challenges for the agency that has supported Palestinian refugees since 1948. Despite UN assurances to the contrary, Israel has accused the UNRWA of ties to Hamas, though these claims remain unsubstantiated. This unprecedented move is drawing sharp criticism from global leaders, who warn it may deepen Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis.
The new law includes a strict prohibition on Israeli authorities contacting the agency, which could severely hamper UNRWA’s ongoing relief operations in Gaza, where they provide food, healthcare, and education. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the move as “unheard of,” while officials from Britain, the United States, and other nations have urged Israel to reconsider, warning of escalating humanitarian disaster in the densely populated enclave.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed grave concern, stressing that “only the UNRWA has the scale and capacity to deliver essential aid” in Gaza’s conflict zones, adding that this legislation risks making it “impossible” to maintain necessary relief efforts. The United States government has also pressed Israel to pause the legislation, calling it a step that could lead to “catastrophic consequences” for Palestinian civilians.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by stating that his government is “ready to work with international partners to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza’s civilians without compromising Israel’s security.” However, the restriction on UNRWA’s presence, many fear, jeopardizes this goal and adds to ongoing concerns regarding the rights and safety of Palestinian refugees, according to William Bell, Christian Aid’s regional head for the Middle East. He emphasized that this move is part of Israel’s broader opposition to Palestinian refugees’ “right of return” and warned it could contravene international measures aimed at preventing genocide.
UNRWA has been a lifeline for Gaza’s population, carrying out hundreds of thousands of interventions for families affected by the ongoing conflict. However, its facilities have increasingly come under fire amid military operations. A recent UNRWA report reveals 464 attacks on its structures and personnel, including 74 incidents of military interference, leading to the deaths of 563 refugees and injuries to nearly 1,800. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, voiced strong condemnation, saying Israel’s actions in northern Gaza “risk a wholesale evacuation of Palestinians,” and may constitute “atrocious crimes” possibly amounting to crimes against humanity.
On November 5, Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, warned that this blockade could end vital services in Gaza, leaving most residents without food, medical aid, or education. Meanwhile, Joyce Msuya, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator, stated, “Every single person in northern Gaza is at risk of death. This blatant disregard for basic humanity and the laws of war must stop.”
Among the most vulnerable are Gaza’s children. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder reports that over 2,400 children urgently need medical care, but daily evacuations are now down to a trickle, with fewer than one child per day able to leave. Elder pointed to the severe conditions for Gaza’s youth: head trauma, amputations, severe malnutrition, and cancer cases remain untreated, as Israel provides no explanation for blocking their exit. He added, “Children are dying in Gaza not only from bombs and bullets but from the lack of access to lifesaving care. They survive the explosions, only to be trapped, unable to receive medical attention.”
This recent law marks a stark escalation in the region’s political tensions, with growing concern for its impact on civilian lives and an already strained humanitarian landscape in Gaza.
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