Netanyahu hardens stance on Palestinian aid, orders enforcement of UNRWA ban

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the immediate enforcement of a law banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating in Israeli-controlled areas.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the directive, stating: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that the UNRWA law, which was passed by the Knesset (the Israeli House of Representatives) with broad support, be enforced immediately," Caliber.Az reports. 

The statement further noted that there were “no restrictions” on its implementation.

The Knesset had approved the legislation in October 2024, prohibiting any engagement between Israeli authorities and the agency, while also mandating UNRWA’s expulsion from Israeli territory. As part of this move, Israel had ordered the agency to vacate all premises in occupied East Jerusalem by January 30, 2025.

UNRWA, established by the UN General Assembly in 1949, has long provided essential humanitarian services, including healthcare, education, and vocational training, to Palestinian refugees. It operates across the occupied West Bank and Gaza, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

The law’s enforcement comes amid mounting international concerns over the agency’s future. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the decision could have “devastating consequences,” while Joyce Msuya, acting head of the UN aid coordination office, described the move as “dangerous and outrageous.” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the ban as “collective punishment” that would worsen Palestinian suffering.

The Israeli government’s crackdown coincides with a broader financial crisis for UNRWA, exacerbated by US President Donald Trump’s executive orders earlier this month cutting American funding for the agency. The US has historically been one of UNRWA’s largest donors.

By Aghakazim Guliyev