Overview

• Israel's new legislation prohibits the UNRWA agency from operating in Israeli territory and bars Israeli officials from coordinating with the agency.
• UNRWA, which provides essential services like education, healthcare, and food aid to nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees, faces operational uncertainty, especially in Gaza and the West Bank.
• The ban stems from Israeli claims that UNRWA is infiltrated by Hamas, though investigations have found limited evidence supporting these accusations.
• Humanitarian groups warn that the ban threatens aid delivery to Gaza, where UNRWA has been a critical lifeline, and could destabilize the region further.
• While Israel suggests other organizations can replace UNRWA's role, experts argue that no existing entities have the capacity to fully assume its responsibilities.