Israel's Parliament Designates UNRWA as a Terrorist Organization

Israel's parliament has passed new legislation that classifies the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as a terrorist organization.

This move cuts diplomatic ties with the agency and prohibits it from operating on Israeli soil.

The legislation, which passed with a vote of 92 to 10, includes two key bills.

These bills ban any connections between Israeli officials and UNRWA and remove legal protections for its staff.

They also prevent UNRWA from carrying out any activities or providing services within Israel.

While the laws will not take effect immediately, they could severely disrupt the aid distribution process in Gaza, which is already facing a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Israel is under increasing pressure from the U.S. to provide more aid, making this legislation particularly controversial.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that UNRWA workers must be accountable for what he described as their "terrorist activities."

He emphasized the need for ongoing humanitarian assistance to Gaza, despite the new restrictions.

Israel has accused UNRWA of having ties to Hamas militants, especially following the October 7 attacks, which resulted in significant casualties and hostages.

This accusation led to Australia and the U.S. pausing their funding for UNRWA after claims that some staff were involved in the attacks.

However, UNRWA has denied these allegations, terminating the contracts of several accused staff members and stating that a review found no evidence of involvement by many others.

The new legislation poses a serious threat to Palestinians in Gaza who rely on UNRWA for essential aid amid severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.

Over 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced due to ongoing conflict.

The U.S. has expressed deep concerns about the implications of this legislation.

A State Department spokesperson highlighted UNRWA's critical role in delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza and emphasized that the agency also provides important services in the West Bank and throughout the region.