ISRAEL’S parliament has voted to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories in a move which has been widely condemned.
Originally set up in 1948, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees is the primary refugee agency for Palestinians.
The UN’s secretary-general Antonio Guterres has reminded Israel of its obligation to international law in the wake of the new legislation.
Here’s all you need to know.
Why has Israel voted to ban UNRWA?
On Monday, 92 Israeli MPs voted to ban UNRWA’s activities in Israel with just 10 opposed to the measure.
A second bill subsequently severed diplomatic relations with the agency with Israel long claiming it is obsolete.
It has also repeatedly claimed that UNRWA has employed militants from Hamas.
A six-page Israeli dossier shared with the United States accused 12 UNRWA staff members of taking part in the October 7 attacks, including nine it said worked as teachers in the agency’s schools.
However, we told in April this year however how an independent review found evidence still had not been provided to back up the claims.
UNRWA itself described the move as “unprecedented” and said it opposed the UN Charter and “violates the state of Israel’s obligations under international law”.
“Failing to push back against these bills will weaken our common multilateral mechanism,” it said.
“This should be a concern to all.”
What does the new law actually do?
The new legislation – which won’t be put in place for a number of months – will mean UNRWA could not “operate any institution, provide any service, or conduct any activity whether directly or indirectly”.
Critics of the move have already expressed concern that this would imperil the process for distributing aid in Gaza.
Although most of the activities take place in the West Bank and Gaza, it is dependent on an agreement with Israel to operate, including access to border crossings.
Reacting to the news, Oxfam’s regional director in the middle east and north Africa Sally Abi Khalil said: “Israel has bombed Palestinians to death, maimed them, starved them, and is now ridding them of their biggest lifeline of aid.
“Piece by piece, Israel is systematically dismantling Gaza as a land that is autonomous and liveable for Palestinians.
“The banning of UNRWA today is condemnable and another step in this crime.”
More than 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes and Gaza faces widespread shortages of food, water and medicine.
What has the UK said?
Following the announcement, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Twitter/X: “Today’s Israeli Knesset bills restricting @UNRWA are totally wrong.
“Alongside international partners, the UK has been clear Israel must ensure UNRWA can deliver aid at the speed and scale needed to address the humanitarian emergency in Gaza.
Scotland’s former first minister Humza Yousaf reposted the statement and said: “And yet, astonishingly, you still sell Israel weapons.”
Meanwhile, Guterres said UNRWA would be prevented from doing UN-mandated work if the laws are implemented.
“There is no alternative to UNRWA,” he said in a statement.
He called on Israel to “act consistently with its obligations” under both UN Charter and international law as well as the privileges and immunities of the United Nations.
