The United Nations Palestinian aid agency UNRWA said on Thursday that its operations in Gaza and the West Bank were ongoing despite an Israeli ban. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres,
The law that bans the United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees in Gaza went into effect on Wednesday.
Legislation that goes into effect on Thursday bars UNRWA from operating in the country. That will affect aid delivery to Gaza and beyond.
The Israeli government ban on UNRWA over national security concerns and links to terrorism began Jan. 30. UNRWA has called the move by Jerusalem as "disastrous."
Bill Deere, director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA), discussed with ABC News on Wednesday relief efforts in Gaza and
Millions of Palestinians rely on the UN agency, not only in Gaza but also across the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. | ITV National News
UN refugee agency says it has not received any official statement on how Israel's parliament will implement ban
The Israeli Parliament voted in favour of banning the United Nations' aid programme to Palestinians three months ago, claiming "UNRWA is Hamas".
The ban effectively cuts off the UN aid agency from delivering critical aid to Gaza, putting millions of Palestinians at risk after 15 months of war have devastated the region.
Israel on Thursday formally banned the main United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees from operating on its territory despite heavy diplomatic backlash, a move that
Israel’s blockade of Gaza and attacks on healthcare facilities caused life-threatening danger for pregnant women since Oct 2023, says HRW.