Israel Ends Decades-Old Cooperation Agreement with UNRWA

Israel has formally ended a decades-old cooperation agreement with the United Nations Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) that covered the protection, movement, and diplomatic immunity of the agency in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

Israel notified the U.N. in a letter on Sunday, as required by a new law adopted by Israel’s parliament that will ban UNRWA’s operations in Israel and prevent Israeli officials from cooperating with it when the law takes effect in late January.

The end of the 1967 agreement, however, is immediate. U.N. lawyers are studying the letter, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Monday, adding that: “UNRWA is continuing to operate today.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for years called for UNRWA to be dismantled, accusing it of anti-Israeli incitement.

UNRWA says the new law leaves its operations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza at risk of collapse. Top U.N. officials and the Security Council describe UNRWA as the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, where Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas have been in conflict for the past year.

UNRWA Established in 1949

UNRWA was established in 1949 following the conflict surrounding the founding of Israel, when 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes. It provides aid, health, and education to 5.9 million descendants of those refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and in neighboring Arab countries.

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UNRWA Director: “There is No Alternative”

“There is no alternative to UNRWA,” Dujarric said.

The United States opposed the Israeli legislation on UNRWA and was studying the Israeli letter to the U.N. to learn what the implications might be, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday.

Consequences of Israeli Law

The amount of aid entering Gaza has plummeted to its lowest level all year, according to U.N. data. A global hunger monitor has warned of looming famine, and the U.N. has repeatedly accused Israel of hindering and blocking attempts to deliver aid, particularly to Gaza’s north.

Israel’s Accusations

Israel has accused UNRWA staff of involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants on Israel, which sparked the conflict in Gaza. The U.N. said in August that nine UNRWA staff may have been involved in the Hamas attack and had been fired. Later, a Hamas commander in Lebanon – killed in September by Israel – was found to have had an UNRWA job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is UNRWA?
A: UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Q: What is the purpose of UNRWA?
A: The purpose of UNRWA is to provide aid, health, and education to 5.9 million descendants of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and in neighboring Arab countries.

Q: Why did Israel end its cooperation agreement with UNRWA?
A: Israel ended its cooperation agreement with UNRWA due to accusations of anti-Israeli incitement and allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in attacks on Israel.

Q: What are the consequences of Israel’s decision?
A: The consequences of Israel’s decision include the potential collapse of UNRWA’s operations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, and the potential for humanitarian crises in the region.

Q: What is the position of the United States on UNRWA?
A: The United States has opposed the Israeli legislation on UNRWA and is studying the implications of Israel’s decision to end its cooperation with the agency.