Three bills in the Knesset aim to ban the UNRWA as an accomplice of Hamas
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), established in 1949 to address the needs of Palestinian refugees, faces potential designation as a terrorist organization. This follows the introduction of legislation in the Knesset that seeks to strip UNRWA staff of immunity and prohibit its operations within Israel. Israel has repeatedly accused the agency of supporting Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups.
MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beitenu, who proposed the UNRWA terrorist designation, asserted on Monday, “We are on the UN’s blacklist in any case. All the excessive morality ended on October 7,” labeling the agency a “fifth column” within Israel.
Her bill passed the first reading with a 50-10 vote in the Knesset. Additional bills, aimed at banning UNRWA activity within Israeli territory and removing legal immunity from agency personnel, have also advanced. These bills are now headed to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further examination and must pass two more votes before becoming law.
UNRWA employs over 30,000 individuals and provides vital services to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as refugees in neighboring countries. According to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, over two million people rely on UNRWA for survival.
In January, the Israeli government alleged that a dozen UNRWA employees participated in the October 7 attacks by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,100 Israelis and the capture of 250 into Gaza. Israel further claimed that 190 UNRWA staff members provided intelligence and logistical support to Hamas, allowing attackers to utilize UNRWA facilities as safe havens.
These accusations prompted 18 donor nations, including the US, UK, and Germany, to withdraw funding from UNRWA. However, an independent review commissioned by the UN in April concluded that Israel failed to provide evidence substantiating its claims.
Israel responded to the October 7 attacks with air and artillery strikes on Gaza, followed by a ground invasion. As of Monday, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed and almost 90,000 injured in the conflict.