Israel lodges proposal with UN for dismantling of Palestinian relief agency
Israel proposes transfer of Unrwa staff to new agency for food distribution in Gaza.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
Israel has presented a proposal to the United Nations to dismantle Unrwa, its relief agency in Palestinian territories, and transfer its staff to a new agency for large-scale food deliveries into Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces have refused to work with Unrwa due to alleged affiliations with Hamas or Islamic Jihad among its staff. The proposal aims to transfer Unrwa employees to other UN agencies or a new organization. However, concerns have been raised about the impact on aid delivery in Gaza, as Unrwa is a significant humanitarian actor in the region. The Israeli plan is viewed by some as an attempt to undermine Unrwa and control humanitarian efforts in Gaza, with the UN Secretary-General and IDF not commenting on the matter. The potential transition could impact essential services beyond food distribution, such as healthcare and education, provided by Unrwa in the region.