Israel has officially informed the United Nations of its decision to cancel the agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which has been in place since 1967, Reuters reports.
The decision follows recent legislation passed by the Israeli parliament that prohibits UNRWA from operating in Israel and restricts Israeli cooperation with the organization, which aids millions of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Israel has criticized UNRWA for alleged anti-Israel bias and claims it perpetuates the refugee status of Palestinians. Additionally, amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, Israel has accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas, which it claims participated in attacks on Israel. Israel’s Foreign Ministry indicated plans to increase support for other international organizations as alternatives to UNRWA.
The legislation has raised concerns among the UN and some Western allies about worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Although the legislation does not directly ban UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza, it severely hinders the organization’s ability to function in those areas.
