On Monday, Israel formally notified the United Nations of its decision to cancel the 1967 agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which had allowed the organization to operate in the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz made the announcement public by sharing the letter sent to the UN. The decision comes roughly a week after the Knesset passed legislation to halt UNRWA’s operations within Israel, following accusations that some of the agency’s employees were involved in the October 7 attacks.
Katz stated, “UNRWA is part of the problem in Gaza, not part of the solution. The vast majority of aid is channeled through other organizations.” Israeli envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, also shared the letter’s content.
The move has drawn condemnation from various international organizations and governments. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned that the United States is in discussion with the Israeli government regarding the decision, expressing concern about any legislation that might shut down the agency.
Established in 1949, UNRWA provides services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, including education and healthcare. Israel accused 12 UNRWA employees of participating in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and urged donor countries to withhold funds from the agency and instead direct them to other humanitarian organizations.
