UN Agency UNRWA Faces Shutdown in East Jerusalem Amid Israeli Ban

Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem are set to lose critical services provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as a new Israeli law banning the agency takes effect on Thursday.

Under the legislation, passed last year, UNRWA is prohibited from operating within areas Israel considers its territory, including East Jerusalem, which it has occupied since the 1967 war. Israeli authorities have also barred contact with the agency.

At UNRWA’s compound in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, workers were seen packing equipment and preparing for the closure. The agency’s spokesperson, Jonathan Fowler, condemned the decision, stating, “It’s an unacceptable decision. We cannot inform the people we serve about what will happen to our services after this week.”

Impact on Refugees
UNRWA has operated in East Jerusalem for decades, providing education, healthcare, and other essential services to tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees, many of whom lack citizenship. One refugee, Sara Saeed, expressed despair at the closure of a medical center in the Old City, saying, “Here is a place for people in need and those who cannot afford medication.”

The center serves 30,000 refugees, offering vital care to patients with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and children requiring vaccinations. “Where will they go?” asked Manal AlKhayat, head of nursing at the center.

While the ban specifically applies to Israeli territory, it remains unclear how UNRWA’s operations in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza will be affected.

Israel’s Stance on UNRWA
Israel has long criticized UNRWA, alleging it perpetuates the refugee status of Palestinians and accusing its staff of bias and ties to Hamas. Although the agency denies these claims, Israeli officials argue that its dissolution would eliminate the refugee issue and any claims to a right of return for Palestinians displaced since 1948.

The United Nations has defended UNRWA’s role, emphasizing its irreplaceable expertise in providing humanitarian aid, particularly in Gaza, where it employs 13,000 of its 30,000 regional staff.

Since the conflict in Gaza intensified, over 200 UNRWA staff have been killed, according to the agency. The agency also faces scrutiny after reports surfaced of nine staff members allegedly being involved in Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel.

As UNRWA operations cease in East Jerusalem, uncertainty looms for the thousands of Palestinian refugees dependent on its services. Meanwhile, the Israeli government has not announced any plans to replace the agency’s programs.