The United Nations Secretary General strongly laments recent amendments adopted by Israel’s legislative body, Knesset, aimed at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, arguing that they run contrary to international law and should be repealed forthwith.
The criticism comes as an escalation between the Israelis and the UN organization responsible for the provision of education and health services and humanitarian support to the Palestinian refugees for the past seventy-two years, as the Israelis start razing dozens of homes for the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as winter is expected to hit the region badly.
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…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) December 29, 2025Despite 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…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) December 29, 2025What changes did Israel’s parliament adopt against UNRWA?
The Israeli Knesset on the 29th of December passed amendments to the legislative act to halt the activities of the UNRWA, thus further expanding the legislative act that was issued in 2024.
The new legislative actions annul the special diplomatic immunities of the UNRWA in respect of the Israeli law and render the UNRWA liable for legal suits filed against it before the Israeli courts, as well as the prohibition of Israeli companies from providing the UNRWA essential services such as water, electricity, fuel, banking, and communication services for the UNRWA offices.
Approved in final readings: No water or electricity services to be provided to properties registered in UNRWA’s namehttps://t.co/LBmDofhkmU pic.twitter.com/DnO7xKbTMJ
— The Knesset (@KnessetENG) December 29, 2025The law also gives Israeli authorities the right to expropriate UNRWA properties in East Jerusalem, including their headquarters and a primary vocational training center. Israeli officials have also been banned from having any kind of contact with the organization.
Why does the UN say the legislation violates international law?
Through a statement read by his spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the law and its amendments are “inconsistent with the status and international legal framework applicable to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” and also violate the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations ratified by Israel.
“The Convention remains applicable to UNRWA, its property and assets, and to its officials and other personnel. Property used by UNRWA is inviolable,” the statement said.
The UN secretary-general additionally drew the attention of the forum to the Advisory Opinion adopted by the International Court of Justice on 22nd October 2025, which stated the existence of an obligation on the part of the Israeli Government to recognize the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East within the occupied territory of Palestine.
How is UNRWA responding to Israel’s actions?
A statement from the UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, explained the impact of the new law as part of “a systematic campaign aimed at trying to delegitimatize UNRWA and hinder its primary mandate.” Lazzarini added that if the organization loses the ability to provide basic services like water and protection, the agency would be unable to provide life-saving services to the Palestinian refugees.
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…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) December 29, 2025Officials of the UNRWA have repeatedly contended against Israeli claims of corruption by the presence of Hamas within the UNRWA, UNRWA officials maintaining that Israel has yet to find any evidence of widespread UNRWA corruption or incompetence by UNRWA personnel.
What is happening on the ground in the West Bank?
In the occupied West Bank, there have been rising Israeli military incursions owing to increasing diplomatic rifts. On Wednesday, large apartment blocks were demolished with bulldozers and cranes in the Nur Shums Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Approximately 100 Palestinian families were residing in these demolished structures.
A massive storm of dust has risen above a refugee camp, where viewers stand afar, many of whom were displaced to move with scant luggage due to rising temperatures. Displacement on this scale has serious humanitarian repercussions, including homelessness, diseases, and psychological instability, so it has been estimated by humanitarian bodies.
Why is East Jerusalem a focal point of the dispute?
Although all of Jerusalem is deemed Israeli sovereign territory, the United Nations views the eastern part of the city as an internationally occupied territory. The UNRWA remains active in the area with schools, health clinics, and other humanitarian services for the refugee population in excess of 60,000 Palestinian refugees.
I strongly condemn the unauthorized entry into the @UN Sheikh Jarrah compound held by @UNRWA in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli authorities.
This compound is inviolable & immune from any other form of interference.
I urge Israel to immediately take all necessary steps to…
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) December 9, 2025The new law follows on the existing one applied since January 2025, which prohibited the UNRWA activities in East Jerusalem and any form of coordination with the Israeli government. Last month, Israeli forces broke into the compound of the UNRWA in East Jerusalem, pulled down the United Nations flag and flew the Israeli flag on the same platform. The United Nations considers this an infringement on the inviolability of United Nations premises.
“Yesterday's storming of UNRWA's East Jerusalem compound by Israeli police and taking control – including by replacing the @?UN flag with the Israeli one – creates a dangerous precedent.
Deliberately and blatantly disregarding obligations under the UN Charter and the Convention… pic.twitter.com/Nkgzqd1GcY
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 9, 2025In May, Israeli authorities also forced the closure of UNRWA-run schools in East Jerusalem, depriving hundreds of Palestinian children of access to education.
Why does the UN say UNRWA is “irreplaceable”?
The Secretary-General reaffirmed the critical role of UNRWA in providing services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. UNRWA is the backbone of the international response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, providing aid in the fields of food, health, shelter, and education.
He said that the continuing operations of UNRWA directly contribute to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 of 2025 and of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, both of which depend on large-scale humanitarian access.
UN officials have pointed out that Israel’s step to deprive a UN body of immunities constitutes a dangerous trend. Moreover, the bill could jeopardize the independence afforded to UN agencies inasmuch as it might affect the multilateral system as a whole, especially in a conflict area where states could opt to do away with international observation.
“A failure to resist attempts to intimidate and diminish the UN in the occupied Palestinian territory will, in the end, impact humanitarian work globally,” a statement issued by UNRWA explained.
Do Palestinian refugees lose their rights if UNRWA is dismantled?
The UN officials have further emphasized that the Palestinian refugees have the same rights irrespective of the UNRWA. These rights are based on the international humanitarian law principles and the UN General Assembly resolution 194 of 1948 on the right to return to and compensation.
“These rights would remain even if the existence of UNRWA were not,” the agency wrote, speculating that the elimination of the agency would not alleviate the problem but instead increase the humanitarian crisis.
