Israel has officially notified the United Nations that it is canceling the agreement that regulated its relations with the main UN relief organization for Palestinian refugees since 1967. The Israeli parliament passed legislation last month banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and stopping Israeli authorities from cooperating with the organization, which provides aid and education services to millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Israel has long been critical of UNRWA, accusing it of anti-Israel bias and perpetuating the conflict by maintaining Palestinians in a permanent refugee status. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini stated that Israel has significantly reduced the entry of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies.
The legislation has prompted international concern, with the UN Security Council warning against attempts to dismantle UNRWA. While the law does not directly outlaw UNRWA's operations in the West Bank and Gaza, it will severely impact the organization's ability to work in those areas.