Israel Ends 1967 Agreement with UNRWA, Effective in Three Months

Nov 4, 2024, 10:45 AM

Israel has officially notified the United Nations that it is terminating its decades-long agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The agreement, which has been in place since 1967, facilitated the operations of UNRWA in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. This decision follows recent legislation passed by the Knesset that bans the organization. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the direction of Foreign Minister Israel Katz, presented the formal notification to Philémon Yang, the President of the UN General Assembly, citing the involvement of UNRWA employees in the October 7 massacre as a reason for the termination. The termination is expected to have significant impacts on the delivery of vital services such as healthcare and education to Palestinian refugees in the affected regions. The ban will go into effect in three months.