Israel Officially Informs UN of the Ban on UNRWA Activities on its Territory

The Government of Israel has officially informed the UN of the implementation of its earlier decision to ban the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This was announced by Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN, Danny Danon, on the X network.

Israel believes that Hamas has infiltrated the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.

The report says that the bill banning UNRWA will come into force in three months, and until then, Israel ‘will continue to cooperate with international partners, in particular with UN organisations, to ensure humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip in a manner that does not jeopardise Israel's security.’

Israel accuses UNRWA of having participated in a large-scale attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. ‘The State of Israel will continue to cooperate with humanitarian organisations, but not with those that ‘facilitate terrorism against us,’’ Danny Danon said.

Earlier, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a statement in which it noted that any disruption or suspension of UNRWA's work would have grave consequences for millions of Palestinian refugees. The UK's Permanent Representative to the UN, Barbara Woodward, said that ‘the allegations against UNRWA staff were thoroughly investigated earlier this year and there is no reason to break off relations with the agency’.

A week ago, the Israeli Knesset approved a controversial bill banning UNRWA's activities on Israeli territory. But this means that UNRWA will not be able to work in the Palestinian territories, as Israel controls the border crossings.

Israel's decision caused deep concern in the international community. The UN Security Council called on Israel to reverse the decision to ban UNRWA. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed his protest over the ban.