Ending U.N. Agency Imperils Palestinians

Israeli legislation will stop Unrwa, which provides medicine, food and education

- OMAR ABDEL-BAQUI

BALATA CAMP, West Bank-Saeed Hashash, a father of four, was connected to a dialysis machine when he learned that Israel passed laws that would halt the operations of the agency that pays for his kidney treatment.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or Unrwa, is the largest aid organization operating in the Palestinian territories. It has about a month left before it is paralyzed by new Israeli legislation.

"This is life or death," said his wife, Rashida Hashash.

The 75-year-old agency was established shortly after the founding of the state of Israel and the United Nations. It provides Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with a crucial safety net of food, medicine and education, operating nearly 100 schools and dozens of health facilities in the West Bank alone.

But Unrwa and Israel have long been at odds about the role that the agency plays in the Palestinian territories.

Israel stepped up its criticism of the agency after the deadly Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, accusing at least 12 workers of participating in the assault. Israel later accused Unrwa of employing hundreds of Palestinians with links to Hamas and other militant groups, which Unrwa says it hasn't received evidence of.

The agency fired several employees and investigated others for alleged ties to Hamas following the attacks. Unrwa said it has long shared the names and functions of staff members annually with Israel, including the names of the people Israel has made allegations against.