Israel Enforces Ban on UNRWA, Halting Key Palestinian Aid Operations

The decision to expel the UN agency for Palestinian refugees disrupts critical services and draws widespread international condemnation.

As of January 30, Israel has officially banned the operations of UNRWA, the UN agency providing aid to Palestinian refugees, citing alleged ties to Hamas.
The ban impacts essential services such as health care, education, and food aid for millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
The Israeli government justifies the decision with claims that UNRWA employees were involved in the October 2023 attacks, though these allegations are disputed by the UN and independent investigations.
The move has been met with criticism from the UN, which argues the ban violates international law and leaves no viable alternative for providing humanitarian support to Palestinians.
Key international actors, including the U.S., are divided on the decision, with the Biden administration previously advocating for continued UNRWA operations, while the current U.S. administration supports Israel's stance.