Israel informed the United Nations on Friday that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) must cease all operations in East Jerusalem within six days. The announcement was made by Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.
In the letter, Danon stated that UNRWA is required to evacuate all its premises in Jerusalem by January 30, 2025. This communication marks Israel's official notification regarding the enforcement of legislation passed by the Israeli Parliament in October, which bans UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory and prohibits Israeli officials from engaging with UNRWA personnel.
This decision follows months of escalating tensions between the Israeli government and UNRWA, which provides essential services such as food, shelter, healthcare, vocational training, and education to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The agency has been particularly active since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which initiated the ongoing conflict. UNRWA also assists Palestinian refugees in neighboring countries such as Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Israel has accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas members; however, two U.N. investigations revealed that fewer than 10 out of nearly 13,000 employees were affiliated with the group, and those individuals were terminated. UNRWA has reported that 269 of its staff members have been killed in Gaza, representing the highest casualty rate among U.N. employees in any conflict.
In his letter, Danon emphasized that Israel would continue to cooperate with U.N. agencies that are not infiltrated by terrorist organizations. A U.N. spokesman, Farhan Haq, referred to previous statements by Guterres, who has defended UNRWA's work as essential, particularly in Gaza, where the ongoing Israeli military actions have resulted in significant civilian casualties and displacement.
UNRWA's chief, Philippe Lazzarini, urged the U.N. Security Council to intervene against Israel's legislation, warning that it would severely undermine the international humanitarian response in Gaza and worsen existing living conditions. Lazzarini indicated that UNRWA had not received clear directives from Israel regarding the implementation of the new measures but expected to continue operations amid significant logistical challenges.
Israel's letter specified the evacuation of two sites in the Maalot Dafna and Kfar Aqueb neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, which is considered occupied territory under international law, although Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its own. UNRWA was established in 1949 to aid Palestinians displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and has garnered widespread support among U.N. member states.
Despite this support, U.S. funding for UNRWA has been suspended following accusations of Hamas infiltration. Previous administrations have also restricted funding, with the Biden administration halting millions in annual support and Congress prohibiting funding for a year. The U.N.'s position on the West Bank as occupied territory contrasts with the views expressed by some U.S. officials, including those nominated by Donald J. Trump.
Lazzarini expressed concerns that preventing UNRWA from operating could jeopardize a provisional cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. He noted that during the initial days of the truce, UNRWA successfully delivered food to one million people in Gaza, highlighting the urgent need for continued humanitarian assistance in the region.