What is Unrwa and why has Israel banned it?

In Khan Younis, Gaza, an Unrwa worker is seen assisting a man who is wearing a leg brace. The worker is identifiable by the blue vest he wears, which signifies his affiliation with Unrwa. Recently, Israel's parliament made a significant decision by voting to prohibit the United Nations' Palestinian refugee agency, Unrwa, from operating within Israel and the occupied territory of East Jerusalem. This new law will prevent any contact between Unrwa employees and Israeli officials, which will severely hinder the agency's ability to function in both Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The majority of Gaza's population, which exceeds two million people, relies heavily on the aid and services provided by Unrwa. The decision has sparked widespread condemnation, with Unrwa warning that the new law could lead to a collapse of aid supply chains in the near future. Israel has justified its decision by reiterating its claims that several Unrwa staff members were involved in the Hamas attacks that occurred on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals. However, Israel's opposition to Unrwa has historical roots that extend back several decades. Unrwa, which stands for the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, was established in 1949 to provide assistance to Palestinians who were displaced or fled their homes following the establishment of the state of Israel. Initially, the agency catered to around 700,000 Palestinians, but over the years, it has expanded its operations and has become the largest UN agency in Gaza. Currently, Unrwa employs approximately 13,000 individuals in the region and plays a crucial role in humanitarian efforts. The agency is primarily funded through voluntary contributions from UN member states, with some direct funding from the UN itself. Unrwa is responsible for distributing aid, operating shelters, and managing essential infrastructure, including medical facilities, teacher training centers, and nearly 300 primary schools. Since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, Unrwa has reported distributing food parcels to nearly 1. 9 million individuals and providing close to six million medical consultations throughout the region. Tragically, more than 200 Unrwa staff members have lost their lives in Israeli attacks since October 2023 while carrying out their duties. The tensions between Israel and Unrwa have been longstanding, with Israel consistently criticizing the agency's existence. The issue of Palestinian refugees has been a central point of contention in the Arab-Israeli conflict, as Palestinians aspire to return to their ancestral homes in historic Palestine, parts of which are now within Israel's borders. Israel, however, rejects this claim and has criticized Unrwa for allowing refugee status to be passed down through generations, arguing that this perpetuates the refugee status of Palestinians and fuels their hopes of returning. Additionally, the Israeli government has condemned the educational materials used by Unrwa, claiming that they promote anti-Israel sentiments. In 2022, an Israeli watchdog reported that Unrwa's educational content taught students that Israel was attempting to erase Palestinian identity. The European Commission identified what it termed 'anti-Semitic material' in Unrwa's textbooks, which included incitement to violence. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for EU funding to the Palestinian Authority to be contingent upon the removal of such content. Unrwa has countered these claims, stating that reports regarding its educational materials are inaccurate and misleading, asserting that many of the books in question are not utilized in its schools. The recent ban on Unrwa comes in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks, which intensified calls within Israel for the agency's prohibition. Allegations surfaced that some Unrwa staff members were involved in these attacks, leading to claims that over 450 Unrwa employees were affiliated with terrorist organizations. Following these allegations, 16 Western countries temporarily suspended their funding for the agency. The UN conducted an investigation into Israel's claims and terminated the employment of nine individuals, but stated that Israel had not provided sufficient evidence for the remaining allegations. Unrwa has denied any broader involvement with Hamas. On Monday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated these allegations, stating on social media that 'Unrwa workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable. ' The newly enacted law, which received approval from 92 members of parliament while only 10 opposed it, prohibits any contact between Unrwa employees and Israeli officials. The potential consequences of this ban are significant. While Unrwa's operations primarily take place in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, the agency relies on agreements with Israel to carry out its work. This includes the transportation of aid through checkpoints between Israel and Gaza. Together with the Palestinian Red Crescent, Unrwa is responsible for nearly all aid distribution in Gaza, operating through 11 centers across the enclave. The agency also provides services to 19 refugee camps in the West Bank. Unrwa's director, William Deere, expressed to the BBC that the ban on communication with Israeli officials would make it nearly impossible for the agency's staff to operate effectively in the region. He stated, 'We won't be able to move in Gaza without being subject to possible attack, and international staff won't be able to get visas any longer. ' The executive director of the UN's World Food Programme emphasized that without Unrwa's presence in Gaza, aid agencies would struggle to distribute essential food and medicine. 'They do all the work on the ground there,' Cindy McCain told the BBC. 'We don't have the contacts. We don't have the ability to get to know the contacts, because things are so intensely difficult there. ' Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted on Monday that 'sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza' despite the ban on Unrwa, and that Israel would collaborate with its international partners to ensure this. However, the US State Department stated that Israel must do 'much more' to facilitate the entry of international aid into Gaza. This warning came two weeks after the US gave Israel a 30-day deadline to increase supplies or risk facing cuts to military assistance.