Israel Orders UNRWA to Cease Operations in East Jerusalem

GENEVA/JERUSALEM – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced on January 26 that it has been instructed by Israel to vacate its premises and halt all operations in occupied East Jerusalem by January 30.

The directive follows an October law passed by Israeli lawmakers that bans UNRWA from operating within the country and prohibits Israeli authorities from engaging with the agency, barring specific exceptions. While the UN and most of the international community regard East Jerusalem, alongside the West Bank and Gaza, as occupied territories, Israel asserts full sovereignty over Jerusalem.

UNRWA has condemned the order, asserting it violates Israel’s obligations as a UN member state. “United Nations premises are inviolable and enjoy privileges and immunities under the United Nations Charter,” the agency stated, calling on Israel to honor its commitments.

The potential cessation of services could have severe humanitarian consequences. UNRWA Communications Director Juliette Touma expressed uncertainty about the agency’s immediate future in East Jerusalem, noting that international staff visas are set to expire on January 29. If operations are forced to stop, over 1,100 students could lose access to education, and 70,000 patients would be deprived of primary healthcare.

Israeli lawmakers who supported the ban cited allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel, which they attributed to ties with Hamas and other armed groups. A UN investigation confirmed that nine staff members were involved and subsequently terminated.

The decision has raised alarms among UN officials and Western allies, who warn of worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which has endured over a year of conflict. While the ban does not directly target operations in the West Bank and Gaza, restrictions on Israeli cooperation with UNRWA could disrupt services in these regions as well.