The European Union has expressed serious concerns regarding draft legislation currently under consideration in the Israeli parliament that aims to prohibit the operations of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) within Israel and potentially limit aid to Gaza. The proposed legislation seeks to nullify the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA, effectively halting the agency’s operations in Israel and East Jerusalem.
On October 6, Israel’s Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee approved two bills targeting UNRWA. The first bill would ban UNRWA from providing services or conducting any activities within Israeli territories, and the second bill would annul the 1967 treaty with UNRWA, removing certain immunities granted to the agency’s staff members.
The EU’s High Representative has argued that restricting UNRWA’s operations would significantly undermine the provision of essential health, education, and social services in the West Bank. He described the agency’s work as “a pillar of regional stability.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also conveyed profound concern over the potential ramifications of the legislative measures, warning them to be “catastrophic.” He emphasized that UNRWA operates approximately 400 schools and 65 medical centers across the West Bank and Gaza, assisting over 350,000 children and a substantial portion of Gaza’s population. Guterres noted that any legislative action severing relations between a UN member state and a UN agency would be “a very worrisome development” and suggested he may bring the issue before the UN General Assembly should the bills be passed.
Moreover, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates joined in condemning the Israeli legislature’s actions as a “blatant attack” on the UN. In a statement, the Ministry accused Israel of conducting a broader campaign against Palestinian rights, particularly the right of return, as outlined in UN Resolution 194.
These legislative developments occur amidst ongoing tensions in Gaza, which Guterres has described as entering “an atrocious, abominable second year.” He pointed out the increased military activities by Israel in northern Gaza and the displacement of approximately 400,000 people to overcrowded areas in the south.
UNRWA, established in 1949, provides crucial support to Palestine refugees throughout the Middle East, including regions in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. The agency’s mandate, granted by UN General Assembly resolutions, includes educational and healthcare services, along with emergency and other humanitarian assistance.
As the Knesset prepares for final deliberations when its winter session begins on October 28, the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting UNRWA, underscoring the agency’s significant role in facilitating a credible pathway to a two-state solution. The issue remains dynamic as international pressure increases on Israel to revisit its proposed legislative actions.
More details can be found on JURIST.