Israel Cuts UNRWA Ties, Raising Concerns for Humanitarian Aid in Gaza and the West Bank

In a move with wide-ranging humanitarian implications, Israel passed legislation on Monday that effectively cuts ties with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), threatening critical aid access in Gaza and the West Bank. Laws, approved with an overwhelming majority in the Israeli Knesset, prohibit UNRWA from operating within Israeli territory and bar Israeli state agencies from communicating with the organization. 

UNRWA, which provides essential services to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, has facilitated aid delivery since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Its responsibilities range from delivering food and health services to operating schools. Israel claims UNRWA has been compromised by Hamas influence, alleging that the militant group exploits the agency’s facilities and resources for operational cover, a charge UNRWA denies. 

The legislation’s immediate effects remain unclear, though its language suggests severe limitations on UNRWA’s future operations. Israel controls access to Gaza and the West Bank, meaning new laws could restrict aid supply lines and severely impede the agency’s ability to deliver essentials like food, medical supplies, and winter provisions to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. 

Humanitarian and Diplomatic Concerns 

UNRWA is a lifeline for millions, providing food, education, and health care services. As Gaza reels from widespread devastation and displacement, the agency’s role has grown more crucial, especially given that 90% of Gaza’s population is now displaced, according to local reports. The loss of UNRWA could exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis, especially with aid deliveries severely reduced amid escalating conflict.  UN noted that aid deliveries fell dramatically in early October, with only 704 aid trucks entering Gaza—one-third of pre-crisis levels. 

New Israeli laws would end UNRWA’s tax exemptions and legal immunities, raising the possibility that it may need to relocate personnel and banking operations outside Israel. International humanitarian agencies have condemned the move, including UNICEF, whose spokesperson warned that the loss of UNRWA might collapse Gaza’s aid infrastructure. 

U.S. and International Response 

Biden administration expressed deep concern over the decision, with State Department spokesperson Matw Miller calling it a potential risk to millions of Palestinians who rely on UNRWA for basic services. “We are going to engage with the government of Israel in days ahead,” Miller said, noting that the U.S. is closely monitoring legislation’s implications and potential legal challenges.  White House has even hinted that U.S. military aid could be reconsidered if humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, attempted to reassure international partners, stating Israel is willing to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza but insists on measures that safeguard Israeli security. Some Israeli officials are exploring alternative mechanisms for aid delivery, such as using private contractors or the Israeli military, though no concrete plan has yet emerged. 

Potential for Legal and Humanitarian Challenges 

UNRWA’s limitations are also set to affect the West Bank, where it operates schools and health services for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Se interruptions will likely intensify debates over Israel’s obligations under international law, with rights groups arguing that occupying forces bear responsibility for the welfare of civilians under occupation. 

As of now,  legislation signals a profound shift in the framework for aid delivery to Palestinian territories, with both humanitarian organizations and international governments voicing serious concerns about its potential effects on an already precarious situation in Gaza and the West Bank.