Israel Officially Cut Ties with UNRWA, Citing Security Concerns

On Monday, Israel formally notified the United Nations of its decision to end relations with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

According to reports from Israeli news outlets, Channel 12 and Walla News, the Israeli Foreign Ministry sent an official letter to the UN, terminating Israel’s agreement with UNRWA, which governs the agency’s operations in Israel, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank.

This decision follows a recent law passed by the Israeli Knesset on October 28, 2024, that prohibits UNRWA’s activities within Israeli territories.

The letter from the Israeli Foreign Ministry informed the UN that the new policy would take effect over the next three months, during which Israel plans to work with international partners, including UN agencies, to ensure humanitarian aid continues to reach civilians in Gaza without compromising Israel's security.

In the message to the UN, Israel expressed its expectation of full cooperation from the UN and stressed that its approach would involve international coordination to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Established in 1949, UNRWA is responsible for providing essential services, including education, healthcare, and food assistance, to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. The agency serves over 5 million registered Palestinian refugees in areas including Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

UNRWA’s mission has long been a point of contention for Israel, which argues that the agency perpetuates the refugee crisis by including descendants of those displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict in its mandate. Additionally, Israel has raised security concerns, alleging that UNRWA facilities have been used for storing weapons and that some of its programs promote anti-Israel sentiment, a charge that UNRWA denies.