Israel’s UN Agency Ban Threatens Gaza Ceasefire, UNSC Warns
APP
United Nation: On January 29, the United Nations Security Council was warned that new Israeli laws, which will come into effect on January 30, banning the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA), will escalate instability and deepen despair in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General, briefed the 15-member Council in New York, stating that these laws, passed in October 2024, threaten the lives of millions of Palestinians and risk undermining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
The legislation mandates UNRWA to cease operations in Israeli-occupied territories, including the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, as defined by the Israeli Knesset, in violation of international law. Additionally, the laws restrict any government interaction with the agency or its representatives.
Lazzarini warned that halting UNRWA’s operations, particularly during such a critical time with low international trust, could destabilize the region further, undermine Gaza’s recovery, and derail the ongoing political transition.
He called for urgent intervention by the Security Council to support peace and stability in the occupied Palestinian territories and the wider region.
He described the full implementation of the Knesset’s legislation as potentially “disastrous,” especially for Gaza, where it would cripple the international humanitarian response and reduce the UN’s capacity to provide essential aid. This, he said, would worsen the already dire conditions for millions of Palestinians.
UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly to provide humanitarian services to Palestinian refugees until a political solution is achieved. Lazzarini emphasized that UNRWA’s unique role cannot simply be taken over by other organizations due to its scale and trusted relationship with local communities.
In East Jerusalem, the legislation would expel UNRWA, resulting in 70,000 patients and 1,000 students losing access to healthcare and education services. He also noted that the legislation coincides with Israeli plans to expand illegal settlements on land currently used by the agency.
Further complicating the situation, Lazzarini pointed to severe financial challenges, with key donors reducing or halting their contributions. He appealed for urgent funding to sustain UNRWA’s operations, warning that the agency’s life-saving work could come to a sudden halt without sufficient resources.
Lazzarini also criticized a disinformation campaign led by Israeli authorities that falsely accuses UNRWA of supporting terrorism, which he said undermines the agency’s neutrality and endangers its staff.
In conclusion, Lazzarini urged Security Council members to push back against the Knesset’s legislation, ensure continued funding for UNRWA, and advocate for a genuine political solution to the Palestinian refugee issue.
He emphasized that UNRWA was always meant to be a temporary solution, and a fair, lasting political resolution would allow the agency to conclude its mandate and transfer its services to a functioning Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, Israel announced that it would cut all contact with UNRWA once the legislation comes into effect, forbidding the agency from operating within Israeli territory and halting any communication between Israeli officials and UNRWA representatives.
