Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in discussions with United Nations officials to transfer the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to other UN agencies.
This follows the passage of two Israeli laws targeting UNRWA’s activities and staff in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, set to take effect in two weeks.
After UN Secretary-General António Guterres rejected talks with Israel about replacing UNRWA, the United States has stepped in to help facilitate negotiations. The goal is to find a temporary arrangement to ensure the continuation of humanitarian work in Gaza.
One proposal includes transferring UNRWA staff to work under the supervision of another agency, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and replacing UNRWA’s international directors.
The Israeli government has accused UNRWA of collusion with Hamas, a claim that the agency has denied.
Israel has long lobbied for the closure of UNRWA, arguing that its existence perpetuates the Palestinian refugee issue, which Israel has resisted acknowledging.
The upcoming ban on UNRWA operations is scheduled to come into effect later this month.
