UN Secretary-General Concerned About Ban on UNRWA Activities in Israel and Some Palestinian Areas

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed concern in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Israel's decision to prevent the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). On Tuesday, November 8, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated that the Secretary-General believes the implementation of this law will have a detrimental impact on the humanitarian situation of Palestinians in the region, and Israel must adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law. Danny Danon, Israel's representative to the UN, accused Guterres of 'ignoring undeniable reality' in response to the Secretary-General's letter, claiming that UNRWA has become an ally of Hamas in Gaza, a fact that UN leaders deny. The Israeli parliament approved a bill to ban UNRWA's activities on Monday. According to this resolution, which will take effect in three months, UNRWA will be recognized as a terrorist entity, and its activities will be prohibited throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories under Israeli control, with Israeli entities prohibited from any contact with it. Over the past year, Israel has repeatedly accused UNRWA and its staff of collaborating with Hamas militants and being involved in the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack. The United Nations had previously dismissed some UNRWA members after reviewing allegations from Israel regarding their participation in last year's October attack. The UN confirmed that a slain Hamas commander was operating under the guise of a UNRWA 'relief worker.' Israel has demanded an immediate explanation from the UN regarding UNRWA's involvement in the Hamas attack on October 15. An American representative criticized Israel for potentially preventing UNRWA's activities and the human rights situation in Gaza. The UN told Voice of America that the slain Hamas leader in Lebanon was an employee of UNRWA.