UNRWA ‘Remains Operational’ Despite Israeli Ban Taking Effect

UNRWA Maintains Operations Despite Israeli Ban

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing aid and services to the communities it serves. In a recent post on the social media platform X, the agency stated:

“Our clinics across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remain open, and humanitarian operations in Gaza continue.”

Uncertainty Over Israeli Ban

In October, the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, passed two laws aimed at ending UNRWA’s activities within Israeli-controlled areas and barring any official interactions between Israeli authorities and the agency.

As part of these measures, Israel ordered UNRWA to vacate all premises in occupied East Jerusalem and cease operations there by January 30 of this year. However, in a separate post on X, UNRWA confirmed that it has not received formal communication regarding the implementation of these laws.

Concerns Over Humanitarian Impact

Speaking to The Guardian, UNRWA’s Communications Director, Juliette Touma, stated that the organization’s headquarters in East Jerusalem remains operational and that the agency has no immediate plans to halt its services.

“We don’t have plans to close our operations,” she said. “But we are in the dark.”

Since its establishment in 1950, UNRWA has been a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees, offering essential support in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The ban raises serious concerns about the future of life-saving aid, education, and healthcare in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT). The United Nations has repeatedly warned of the devastating humanitarian consequences such a ban could have.

Palestinians in Gaza, including Iman Hillis—who is currently sheltering with her family at an UNRWA school—fear severe shortages if the agency’s services are disrupted.

“We will have nothing to eat or drink, and this will affect us greatly,” Hillis told UN News. “All the people will be destroyed and will not have food, water, or flour.”

As UNRWA continues its operations amidst growing uncertainty, the future of humanitarian support in the region remains a pressing concern.