Israel halted cooperation with UNRWA, jeopardizing aid to 5.9 million Palestinian refugees. UNRWA, funded by voluntary contributions, provides education, healthcare, and food. The ban disrupts services in Gaza/West Bank, risks instability, and isolates Israel diplomatically. While the US backs the move, global bodies warn of a humanitarian crisis amid ongoing conflict.
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Israel announced the end of cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is a specialized agency established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949.
Its core mission is to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict and their descendants.
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states.
UNRWA’s mandate:
It offers free basic education to Palestinian refugee children, significantly improving literacy rates.
It provides primary healthcare services through a network of clinics, focusing on preventive and curative care, maternal and child health, and disease control.
It assists vulnerable refugees with food aid, cash assistance, and support for those facing extreme hardship.
In January 2025, Israel announced that it will cease all cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) within 48 hours.
Implications of Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA
Disruption of essential services like education, healthcare, and food aid could exacerbate poverty and suffering among Palestinian refugees.
Thousands of refugees in East Jerusalem may lose access to education, healthcare, and other critical services.
The loss of UNRWA’s stabilizing presence could lead to increased unrest and violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
The decision could weaken Israel’s relations with the international community, particularly countries and organizations that support UNRWA’s mission.
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The United States has supported Israel’s decision. Other countries and international organizations have expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of the ban. |
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