Israel bans UNRWA operations, cites Hamas links

Israel will sever ties with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday, accusing it of links to Hamas in a move that could further disrupt the agency’s humanitarian operations after more than 15 months of war in Gaza.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) will be barred from operating on "Israeli soil", and Israeli officials will be prohibited from engaging with the agency.

UNRWA, which has provided aid and services to Palestinian refugees for over 70 years, has long faced criticism from Israel, which claims it undermines the country’s security. Tensions escalated following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, with allegations that some UNRWA employees participated in the assault.

“Humanitarian aid doesn’t equal UNRWA, and UNRWA doesn’t equal humanitarian aid. UNRWA equals an organization infested with Hamas terror activity,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein wrote on X, formerly Twitter, ahead of the ban.

“This is why, beginning on Jan. 30 and in accordance with Israeli law, Israel will have no contact with UNRWA,” he added.

The agency plays a major role in providing health care and education to Palestinians, including those in war-ravaged Gaza.

Government spokesman David Mencer told reporters Wednesday that “UNRWA is riddled with Hamas operatives,” adding, “If a state funds UNRWA, that state is funding terrorists.”

“UNRWA employs over 1,200 Hamas members, including terrorists who carried out the Oct. 7 massacre,” Mencer said. “This isn’t aid, it’s direct financial support for terror.”

Later Wednesday, Israel’s Supreme Court rejected a petition by the Palestinian rights group Adalah challenging the UNRWA ban.

The court noted that the law “prohibits UNRWA activity only on the sovereign territory of the State of Israel” but does not prevent its operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

However, the ban applies to Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where UNRWA’s field headquarters for the West Bank is located.

In a statement following the ruling, Adalah said the law would take effect “disregarding the catastrophic humanitarian consequences.”

The move, which has been backed by Israel's close ally the United States, has drawn condemnation from aid groups and US allies.

The agency says it has brought in 60% of the food aid that has reached Gaza since the war started with Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel.

Israeli envoy to the United Nations Danny Danon told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that UNRWA must cease its operations and evacuate all premises it operates in annexed east Jerusalem on Thursday.

In response, UN chief Antonio Guterres demanded that Israel rescind its order.

"I regret this decision and request that the government of Israel retract it," he said, stressing that UNRWA was "irreplaceable".

The agency's chief, Philippe Lazzarini, said UNRWA's capacity to distribute aid "far exceeds that of any other entity".

He called Israel's actions against UNRWA a "relentless assault... harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory".

Israel claims that a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the deadly 2023 attack, and insists that other agencies can pick up the slack to provide essential services, aid and reconstruction -- something the UN and many donor governments dispute.

A series of investigations, including one led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some "neutrality-related issues" at UNRWA, but stressed Israel had not provided evidence for its headline allegation.

Under US President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House earlier this month, Washington has thrown its weight behind Israel's move, accusing UNRWA of overstating the impact of the decision.