Israel's parliament has passed a bill that will result in the termination of all contact between Israeli officials and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) within three months. This decision comes as the Knesset voted to ban the nearly eight-decade-old United Nations agency that provides essential services for Palestinian refugees.
The bill consists of two parts: one prohibits UNRWA from operating within Israel, while the other forbids Israeli authorities from engaging in any form of communication or collaboration with UNRWA. This move effectively revokes a 1967 treaty that permitted UNRWA to deliver services to Palestinian refugees in areas under Israeli control.
As per the published law, the 1967 treaty will expire seven days after the bill's passing. Israel's foreign minister will notify the United Nations of the country's intention to terminate the treaty, thereby cutting off UNRWA's ability to provide assistance to millions of Palestinians living in Israeli-occupied territories.
