Israel has banned 37 aid organisations from working in Gaza from January 1, severing access to lifesaving aid for Palestinians, as its genocide continues... & [NOTICE UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) is not on this list- UNRWA was already blocked by Israel earlier last month] UNRWA Commissioner-General on New Anti‑UNRWA Legislation Passed by the Israeli Parliament

[NOTICE  UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) is not on this list- UNRWA was already blocked by Israel earlier last month]

https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2006908305369678257/photo/1

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]

 https://apnews.com/article/gaza-humanitarian-aid-suspension-israel-ec535cea548ddc75080f1e6bffe53801

List of aid groups working in Gaza that Israel is suspending

1. Action Against Hunger

2. ActionAid

3. Alianza por la Solidaridad

4. Campaign for the Children of Palestine

5. CARE

6. DanChurchAid

7. Danish Refugee Council

8. Handicap International: Humanity & Inclusion

9. Japan International Volunteer Center

10. Medecins du Monde France

11. Medecins du Monde Switzerland

12. Medecins Sans Frontieres Belgium

13. Medecins Sans Frontieres France

14. Medecins Sans Frontieres Nederland

15. Medicos del Mundo

16. Mercy Corps

17. MSF Spain

18. Norwegian Refugee Council

19. Oxfam Novib

20. Premiere Urgence Internationale

21. Terre des hommes Lausanne

22. International Rescue Committee

23. WeWorld-GVC

24. World Vision International

25. Relief International

26. Fondazione AVSI

27. Movement for Peace-MPDL

28. American Friends Service Committee

29. Medico International

30. Palestine Solidarity Association in Sweden

31. Defense for Children International

32. Medical Aid for Palestinians UK

33. Caritas Internationalis

34. Caritas Jerusalem

35. Near East Council of Churches

36. Oxfam Quebec

37. War Child Holland

[NOTICE  UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) is not on this list- UNRWA was already blocked by Israel earlier last month]

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]

 https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-commissioner-general-new-anti%E2%80%91unrwa-legislation-passed-israeli-Parliament

UNRWA Commissioner-General on New Anti‑UNRWA Legislation Passed by the Israeli Parliament

The United Nations flag is seen flying above the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem, shortly before Israeli officials tore it down and replaced it with the Israeli flag on 8 December 2025

 

From Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General as posted on his official X account (previously known as Twitter) 

 

---

AMMAN

“Yesterday’s vote by the Israeli parliament passing new legislation against UNRWA is outrageous. It is a direct affront to the mandate granted to the Agency by the UN General Assembly and contrary to findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which oblige Israel to fulfil its responsibilities as a UN Member State to UNRWA and the broader UN system.

The legislation cuts off water, electricity, fuel, and communications from UNRWA and grants the government of Israel authority to expropriate UN properties in East Jerusalem, including UNRWA’s headquarters and its main vocational training centre.

Furthermore, the bill explicitly excludes UNRWA from Israeli law enacting Israel’s obligations under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. This stands in clear violation of the State of Israel’s obligations under international law.

This latest move extends the laws passed last year and implemented since January 2025 that banned UNRWA’s operations in occupied East Jerusalem and halted all contact between Israeli officials and UNRWA.

The new legislation is a further blow to the multilateral system. It is part of an ongoing, systematic campaign to discredit UNRWA and thereby obstruct the core role that the Agency plays in providing human-development assistance and services to Palestine Refugees. Services which the ICJ has ruled are essential for delivering on the UN’s commitment to the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination.

In October, the ICJ restated that the State of Israel is obliged under international law to facilitate UNRWA’s operations, not hinder or prevent them. This new legislation is an unacceptable rejection of the ICJ’s findings.

Israel is obliged to act within the UN framework and not take unilateral action contrary to its obligations under the UN Charter. Should Israel dispute the actions of UNRWA, it must refer the issue to the UN’s deliberative bodies and seek a decisive ruling from the ICJ. A failure to do so disrespects the procedures critical to the operation of the UN system.

 Despite Israel’s obligations, these legislative steps have been accompanied by unilateral actions on the ground that show a repeated disregard for international law.

Earlier this month, Israeli officials stormed UNRWA’s compound in East Jerusalem – which is a UN premises – and tore down the UN flag, replacing it with an Israeli flag. And in May, they forced the closure of UNRWA’s schools in East Jerusalem, depriving hundreds of Palestine Refugee children of their right to education.

Israel’s unilateral actions are having a direct operational and legal impact on UNRWA’s services in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in Gaza, where the Agency is the backbone of the international humanitarian operation. As Gaza, the West Bank, and the wider region continue to face conflict and turmoil, UNRWA – more than ever – is irreplaceable.  

Legislation against UNRWA is also a further setback to efforts to reach a just and lasting diplomatic solution to the decades’ long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.   Pending such a solution, UNRWA is mandated to provide services, especially health and education, to Palestine Refugees. 

The rights of Palestine Refugees exist separate to UNRWA, under international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and UN General Assembly resolutions, including Resolution 194, adopted in 1948, a year before UNRWA was created in Resolution 302. Even if UNRWA no longer existed, these rights would endure.

The current and earlier legislation passed by the Israeli parliament also rejects the principal obligation of UN Member States to respect the UN’s independence and its privileges and immunities. It creates a grave precedent for other conflict situations where governments may wish to eliminate an inconvenient UN presence.

It therefore targets not just UNRWA, but any individual or entity calling for compliance with international law and a peaceful political solution. Failing to push back against attempts to intimidate and undermine the UN in the occupied Palestinian territory will eventually compromise humanitarian and human rights work worldwide. “

 https://x.com/unlazzarini/status/2005783683765043400?s=46&t=n-DGCyE5Su6GxZ75P5lB7A

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]