The Israeli Knesset has recently passed two bills that will effectively ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and scale back aid distribution in Gaza. The bills were passed on Monday despite facing strong international condemnation.
The first bill makes it illegal for Israeli officials to have any contact with UNRWA, while the second prohibits UNRWA from conducting activities within Israel’s borders, which will come into effect in three months. This will prevent the agency from obtaining entrance permits to operate in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, both under Israeli control.
These actions were prompted by accusations that UNRWA staff were involved in attacks on Israel, leading to cuts in funding from several countries. However, most funding has since been restored.
UNRWA, established in 1949 after the Nakba in 1948, provides education, healthcare, social services, and emergency relief to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It serves roughly six million Palestinians and assists over half a million children in schools.
UNRWA manages healthcare centres that see 8.5 million patient visits annually and offers social services including skills training and employment opportunities. Despite the challenges it faces, UNRWA remains a crucial provider of humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees, helping them survive and improve their lives.
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