The Israeli government has ordered the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees to cease its operations and vacate all its premises in Jerusalem by January 30, 2025.
This directive follows a controversial Israeli law that bans UNRWA from operating in Israel and East Jerusalem, an area annexed by Israel after the 1967 Six-Day War.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, stated, “UNRWA is required to cease its operations in Jerusalem and evacuate all premises in which it operates in the city, no later than 30 January 2025.”
UNRWA has been a key provider of humanitarian aid to approximately six million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. It also operates schools and health clinics in East Jerusalem, which has long served as an administrative hub for the agency.
The legislation and order have sparked international concern. Critics warn that the decision could disrupt vital humanitarian services and escalate tensions in the region.
UNRWA has faced escalating criticism from Israel, particularly since the outbreak of the war. The Israeli government has accused some UNRWA employees in Gaza of being involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Responding to the directive, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that halting the agency’s operations could undermine the Gaza ceasefire and further devastate a region already suffering. He stated, “The work of UNRWA must continue in Gaza + across the occupied Palestinian territory,” in a message posted on the platform X.
While Israel has passed a law prohibiting contact between Israeli officials and UNRWA, it has not banned the agency from operating in Gaza or the West Bank.
However, the restriction on operations in Jerusalem is seen as a significant challenge to UNRWA’s ability to support Palestinian refugees.
