International criticism mounts as Israel blocks electricity and water to UNRWA facilities, threatening humanitarian operations across the region.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned new Israeli legislation that authorizes the cutting of electricity and water to facilities run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). A UN spokesperson stated the move would severely hinder the agency’s ability to provide essential services.
“The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations remains applicable to UNRWA,” stated spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, emphasizing that UNRWA property is “inviolable” and that the agency is an integral part of the UN.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini denounced the law as part of a “systematic campaign to discredit UNRWA” and obstruct its humanitarian work. The agency provides education, healthcare, and aid to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Tensions between Israel and UNRWA have escalated dramatically since the outbreak of the Gaza war, with Israeli officials repeatedly calling for the agency to be disbanded. The law builds upon a 2024 Israeli parliamentary act that banned UNRWA from operating within Israel, restricting its operations to East Jerusalem—considered occupied territory by the UN.
The move against UNRWA coincides with Israel’s suspension of dozens of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Gaza for failing to meet new vetting rules. In a joint statement, ten donor nations—including Canada, France, Japan, and the UK—warned that stopping NGO operations would have a severe impact, potentially closing one in three healthcare facilities in Gaza.
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