Israel has officially informed the United Nations that it is terminating the agreement governing its relations with the primary U.N. relief organization for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) since 1967, according to the country's foreign ministry.
Last month, the Israeli parliament enacted legislation prohibiting UNRWA from operating within Israel and preventing Israeli authorities from collaborating with the organization, which offers aid and educational services to millions of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Israel has frequently criticized UNRWA, established following the 1948 war that coincided with the creation of the state of Israel, accusing it of anti-Israel bias and perpetuating the conflict by maintaining Palestinians in a permanent refugee status.
Since the onset of the Gaza war in October last year, Israel has also claimed that the organization has been significantly infiltrated by Hamas in Gaza, accusing some of its staff of participating in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The legislation has raised concerns among the United Nations and some of Israel's Western allies, who worry it will exacerbate the already severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel has been battling Hamas militants for a year. The ban does not apply to operations in the Palestinian territories or elsewhere.
Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon stated that despite the substantial evidence "we presented to the U.N. demonstrating how Hamas infiltrated UNRWA, the U.N. failed to address this reality".
The legislation does not explicitly prohibit UNRWA's operations in the West Bank and Gaza, both considered by international law to be outside the state of Israel but under Israeli occupation. However, it will significantly hinder its ability to operate in those areas, causing deep concern among aid groups and many of Israel's partners.
The Israeli foreign ministry announced that activities by other international organizations would be expanded, and "preparations will be made to sever the connection with UNRWA and to enhance alternatives to UNRWA".
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