On Friday, Israel’s UN ambassador announced that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees must end operations and leave all its premises in Jerusalem by January 30, affirming timelines set out in controversial Israeli legislation.
Despite international concerns, Israeli lawmakers have passed legislation prohibiting the UN agency UNRWA from operating within Israel and East Jerusalem, a territory annexed by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel’s criticism of UNRWA has intensified since the outbreak of the war, including allegations that 12 of the agency’s 13,000 Gaza employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Ambassador Danny Danon stated, “UNRWA must cease its operations in Jerusalem and vacate all premises it occupies in the city by no later than January 30, 2025.”
UNRWA plays a central role in humanitarian efforts for Palestinians, providing aid to approximately six million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. While East Jerusalem has historically served as an administrative center for the agency, it also operates schools and health clinics in the area.
Israel has also enacted a law prohibiting contact between Israeli officials and UNRWA, although its parliament has not formally banned the agency from operating in Gaza or the West Bank.
UNRWA chief, Philippe Lazzarini cautioned that restricting the agency’s operations “could jeopardize the Gaza ceasefire, further dashing the hopes of people who have endured unimaginable suffering.” He emphasized on the social media platform X late Friday, “UNRWA’s work must continue in Gaza and throughout the occupied Palestinian territories.”
