As the world's attention was drawn to the release of hostages and prisoners on Thursday, Israel's ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has now come into effect, impacting the lives of millions of Palestinians who rely on its services for sustenance, education, and livelihoods.
Iman Helles, a displaced mother living in a UNRWA-run facility in Gaza with her three children, expressed deep concerns about the ban potentially leaving them homeless. Following the destruction of their home in Gaza City's eastern Shejaiya district during the war, Helles and her family sought refuge in a former girls' elementary school now serving as a shelter managed by UNRWA in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah.
Helles emphasized the critical role UNRWA plays in supporting her family, stating, 'We live in an agency school. If the agency is banned, we won't eat or drink. If they force us out, where will I go with my small children?'
UNRWA's significance extends beyond Gaza, reaching Palestinians in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned of the dire consequences of the ban, describing its implementation as 'disastrous.'
Lazzarini highlighted the unique mandate of UNRWA in providing essential services akin to those of a public entity, emphasizing that such services cannot be easily transferred to other entities. He refuted Israel's claim that UNRWA's functions could be seamlessly transitioned, underscoring the agency's irreplaceable role in supporting vulnerable Palestinian populations.
