Israel's ban on UN's Palestinian aid agency has come into effect. Here's what that looks like
Israel's ban on UN's Palestinian aid agency has come into effect. Here's what that looks like
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Israel on Thursday formally banned the main United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees from operating on its territory despite heavy diplomatic backlash, a move that humanitarian officials warn could have a disastrous impact on aid delivery and jeopardize regional stability in the long term.
The order against the agency, known as UNRWA, went into effect at midnight on Thursday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said. But hours later, there was no change on the ground except in the most cosmetic sense — right-wing activists clambered up the high stone walls of UNRWA's headquarters compound in east Jerusalem, yanked down the blue-and-white U.N. flag, hoisting up Israel’s blue-and-white instead.
The building was largely empty. Palestinian staff, who make up the large majority at the headquarters, were encouraged to stay home for their safety, while UNRWA's international staff — about 50 aid workers — left for Jordan the day before as their visas expired.
For the moment, the array of schools and medical clinics run by UNRWA in east Jerusalem continued to operate, and the agency said there had been no change in its deliveries of aid in the Gaza Strip.. UNRWA provides aid and services to some 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, as well as 3 million more in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, it has been the main lifeline for a population reliant on humanitarian aid.
Israel's ban, passed by parliament last October, follows months of attacks on the agency from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who claim the agency is deeply infiltrated by Hamas. UNRWA rejects that claim. The legislation also prohibits contact between Israeli officials and UNRWA employees.
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