On Monday, Israel’s parliament passed a controversial law preventing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating on Israeli soil. The law, which could disrupt essential humanitarian support to Gaza, followed a heated parliamentary debate, ending in a 92-10 vote. Lawmaker Boaz Bismuth, a co-sponsor, stated, “UNRWA is not an aid agency for refugees. It is an aid agency for Hamas.”
UNRWA is the primary provider of education, healthcare, and essential services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. With widespread shortages of food, water, and medicine, over 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza depend heavily on its support. The U.S. and other international allies, including aid organizations, have expressed serious concerns about the law’s impact on Palestinians’ well-being.
UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma warned that a complete operational shutdown would devastate Gaza’s humanitarian infrastructure, stating, “If it’s implemented, it’s a disaster. UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza.”
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate, with the Palestinian Health Ministry reporting a death toll exceeding 43,000 in Gaza since Israel’s retaliatory actions began. Northern Gaza, particularly hospitals, remains a primary target for Israeli raids, with Israeli forces alleging that militants hide in medical facilities. Palestinian officials accuse the military of jeopardizing civilian safety.
International mediators, including officials from Egypt and Qatar, have renewed attempts to broker a ceasefire. Egypt has proposed a two-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. Israeli officials indicated openness to the proposal, though Hamas has yet to formally respond.
