Israel Moves to Label UNRWA as Terrorist Organization in Latest Controversial Step

Israel’s parliament has taken a preliminary step to label UNRWA as a terrorist organization, amid allegations of ties with Hamas. This move reflects escalating tensions and has sparked international reactions.

Key Points

• The Israeli parliament has approved a bill in principle to classify UNRWA as a terrorist organization.
• This decision is part of Israel’s ongoing campaign against the UN relief agency, accused of collaborating with Hamas.
• The bill will undergo further review by the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defense committee.
• UNRWA, which provides aid to millions of Palestinians, faces deteriorating relations with Israel and a halt in some donor funding.
• Both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have condemned the Israeli move, calling on the international community to resist it.

The Israeli Parliament has taken a decisive step by giving preliminary approval to a bill aimed at designating the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) as a terrorist organization. This contentious bill proposes severing all relations with the agency, which has been at the center of Israeli accusations of collaborating with the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza.

The Knesset’s vote marks the latest in a series of measures targeting UNRWA. The bill’s approval in the first reading will now lead to further scrutiny by the foreign affairs and defense committee, as per the Knesset information service.

UNRWA, which serves millions of Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria by providing essential services such as education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid, has had a history of strained relations with Israel. However, tensions have escalated dramatically following the recent conflict in Gaza. Israeli officials have alleged that many UNRWA staff are affiliated with terrorist groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, though they have yet to present concrete evidence to a U.N.-appointed review.

Yulia Malinovsky, the bill’s sponsor, has labeled UNRWA as a “fifth column within Israel,” intensifying the debate over the agency’s role and credibility. UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma has criticized the bill as part of a broader campaign to dismantle the agency, describing it as an unprecedented move in UN history.

The impact of the bill is already being felt internationally. Several donor countries had previously suspended their funding in response to Israeli claims, though some, including Britain, have recently resumed their support.

The bill has faced strong condemnation from both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Hussein Al-Sheikh, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has urged the international community to oppose attempts to disband UNRWA, highlighting the ongoing global debate over the agency’s future and its critical role in providing aid to Palestinian refugees.