Israel to Cease Cooperation With UNRWA in East Jerusalem by January 30, 2025

Jan 28, 2025, 03:26 PM

Israel has announced that it will cease all cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) within 48 hours, effective January 30, 2025. The Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, informed the Security Council of this decision, stating that UNRWA must halt its operations and evacuate all its facilities in Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem. This move follows a new Israeli law that prohibits UNRWA from operating within Israel's sovereign territory and bans any contact between Israeli entities and the agency. The United States has expressed support for Israel's decision, describing it as a sovereign choice. The cessation of cooperation with UNRWA, which employs about 30,000 people and serves over 300,000 Palestinians in East Jerusalem, is seen as a reflection of Israel's stance that the agency has failed morally and professionally, negatively impacting the people it was intended to serve.