Israel's ban will have 'catastrophic consequences', UNRWA head warns

The head of the UN's Palestinian relief agency renewed his call for action to block the Israeli law that takes effect in January

Children wait to receive food aid in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza. UNRWA plays a major role in getting supplies to Palestinians. Reuters

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Israel's new law banning UNRWA from operating in the country will have “catastrophic consequences” in Gaza, the head of the UN's Palestinian relief agency said on Wednesday.

UNRWA commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini renewed his call for UN member states to take action to block the Israeli legislation, which takes effect in January. He said he might consider the possibility of going to an international or national court to try to stop the implementation of the new laws.

Last month, Israel passed laws in the Knesset that would prohibit the UN agency’s operations in areas under Israeli control and bar Israeli officials from co-ordinating with UNRWA personnel.

"This would fulfill an explicitly stated objective of the war in Gaza," said Mr Lazzarini.

He said one consequence of banning UNRWA would be to strip Palestinian children of any hopes of an education.

“In the absence of a capable public administration or state, only UNRWA can deliver education to more than 660,000 girls and boys across Gaza. In the absence of UNRWA, an entire generation will be denied the right to education,” he said. This would sow “the seeds for marginalisation and extremism", he said.

Israel is banning UNRWA over claims that some employees colluded with Hamas.

“UNRWA takes allegations of neutrality breaches extremely seriously. While we do not operate in a zero-risk environment, we take a zero-tolerance approach to any proven breaches,” Mr Lazzarini said.

He said that intense lobbying by the Israeli government and affiliated groups has focused on parliaments and governments in top donor countries.

"In open defiance of the United Nations Charter, the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, and the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, the State of Israel is working to unilaterally shift the long-established parameters for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict," he said.

The legislation is set to take effect in late January, shortly after US president-elect Donald Trump begins his second four-year term.

Drawing from his first term, Mr Trump is expected to take a distinctly pro-Israel approach, potentially far exceeding the “unwavering” support already offered by President Joe Biden.

The UN Security Council has voiced strong support for UNRWA, issuing a firm warning against any efforts to dismantle or undermine the agency.

“We left Gaza completely in 2005. We disengaged, we gave the keys to the Palestinian Authority,” Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon said at the UN's headquarters.

“Now we are in a war after we were attacked and we act according to international law. We are willing to co-operate, but not with terrorists.”

UNRWA was established in 1949 after the war surrounding the founding of Israel. It provides aid, health and education to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini holds a briefing at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday. Reuters