Israel's parliament, the Knesset, passed two bills on Monday, Oct. 28, banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from “conducting any activity” within Israel and its occupied territories.

The decision, with 92 in favor and 10 against, bans UNRWA from carrying out any operations or services in Israel, as well as in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.

The legislation may also lead to UNRWA having to shut down its East Jerusalem headquarters and block aid deliveries into Gaza, particularly at the Rafah crossing, according to AP.

The legislation will take effect in 90 days, overturning a 1967 agreement that allowed UNRWA to assist Palestinian refugees in the territories.

Israeli lawmakers also passed a bill labeling UNRWA a terrorist organization.

By doing this,, UNRWA staff will no longer have legal protection that is typically granted to humanitarian workers and Israeli government officials will also be banned from engaging or working with UNRWA personnel.

This might also prevent UNRWA from obtaining necessary permits for its operations, including entry and work permits for foreign staff.

The bill was created because Israel had accused some UNRWA employees of being involved in Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel and claimed that at least 12 staff members belonged to Hamas, according to Reuters.

Israel has long claimed that Hamas has “infiltrated” UNRWA but the agency has consistently denied the allegations and maintains that it does not support militant groups.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, warned the new bill is “unprecedented and sets a dangerous precedent.”

“These bills will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians, especially in Gaza where people have been going through more than a year of sheer hell,” he wrote on X.

Several countries and international bodies condemned the new legislation, including Israel’s Western allies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the law by saying that, “Unrwa workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable.”
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