Israel has officially severed its ties with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), accusing the organization of employing members of Hamas.
The decision, which took effect on Thursday, is expected to significantly impact the agency’s ability to provide essential services, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation remains dire after 15 months of war.
As part of the move, UNRWA will be prohibited from operating within Israeli-controlled territories, including East Jerusalem, and Israeli officials will cease all communication with the agency.
The Israeli government has long accused UNRWA of undermining national security, but tensions escalated further following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, after which Israel alleged that UNRWA staff participated in the assault.
Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer reinforced the allegations, stating:
“UNRWA is synonymous with Hamas. Israel has provided irrefutable evidence that the agency harbors a significant number of Hamas operatives.”
He further accused UNRWA of employing over 1,200 Hamas members, some of whom, he claimed, were directly involved in the October 7 massacre.
“This is not humanitarian aid; this is direct financial support for terrorism,” Mencer added. “As of January 30, under Israeli law, we will have no further engagement with UNRWA.”
Established in December 1949 by a UN General Assembly resolution, UNRWA has provided essential healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East.
The agency plays a crucial role in Gaza, where prolonged conflict has devastated infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
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