Israel's parliament on Monday passed a law banning the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from operating in the country, alarming some of Israel's Western allies who fear it will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, there is no alternative to UNRWA.
Israeli officials refer to the involvement of a handful of the thousands of UNRWA staff in the 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel and to the membership of several staff members in Hamas and other armed groups.
Head of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini said the vote contravened the UN Charter and violated international law.
"This is the latest in an ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human development assistance and services to Palestinian refugees," wrote on the social media platform X.
The vote took place on the same day that Israeli tanks pushed deeper into northern Gaza, the Palestinian emergency services said, in what the Israeli army described as operations to eliminate regrouping Hamas fighters.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said about 100,000 people were stranded in Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun without medical and food supplies, Reuters reported, but said it could not independently verify the figure.
The Israeli army said soldiers captured about 100 suspected militants in a raid on a hospital in Jabalia camp. Hamas and the hospital denied that any gunmen were present at the hospital.
The Gaza Strip Health Ministry said at least 19 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes and bombardments on Monday.
Ceasefire negotiations
Talks led by the US, Egypt and Qatar to broker a ceasefire resumed on Sunday after several failed attempts. The Egyptian president proposed a two-day truce with the aim of exchanging four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners and then negotiating a permanent ceasefire within 10 days.
Netanyahu said mediators would resume talks in the coming days "in a continuing effort to reach an agreement."
Israel has repeatedly stated that the war will continue until Hamas is eradicated, while the Islamist movement has ruled out any end to the fighting until Israeli forces leave Gaza.
The Gaza war has fuelled a wider conflict in the Middle East and raised concerns about global oil supplies, with Israel bombing Lebanon and sending forces into its south to neutralise Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas.
At least 16 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on three villages in the eastern Lebanese town of Baalbek, the Lebanese health ministry said on Monday.
The conflict has also sparked clashes between Israel and Iran. Israeli warplanes shelled Iranian production facilities over the weekend in retaliation for an Iranian missile that landed on Israel on October 1.
Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran would "use all available tools" to respond.
Statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Israeli legislation on UNRWA
I am deeply concerned that the Israeli Knesset has passed two laws concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which, if introduced, would likely prevent UNRWA from continuing its vital work in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, as mandated by the UN General Assembly.
UNRWA is the main vehicle through which basic assistance is provided to Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. There is no alternative to UNRWA.
The implementation of the laws could have devastating consequences for Palestinian refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory, which is unacceptable. I call on Israel to act in accordance with its obligations under the UN Charter and other obligations under international law, including obligations under international humanitarian law and obligations relating to UN privileges and immunities. National legislation cannot alter these obligations.
The implementation of these laws would be detrimental to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to peace and security in the entire region. As I have already said, UNRWA is indispensable.
I am bringing this matter to the attention of the UN General Assembly and will keep it fully informed of developments.
UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestinian refugees in the Agency's area of operation until a just and lasting solution to their plight can be found.
UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the 1948 conflict remain displaced and in need of support after nearly 75 years.
UNRWA helps Palestinian refugees reach their full human development potential through the quality services it provides in the areas of education, health, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and its improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
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