Israel has ended an agreement that facilitated the work of the main United Nations relief organisation for Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA, which is the biggest aid provider in Gaza, has been infiltrated by Hamas, according to Israel which has accused some of the agency’s staff of participating in the 7 October attack in the south of the country.
It denies the allegations and says it is a neutral organisation.
The Israelis have now officially told the UN they were cancelling the agreement.
The latest move appears to be a step towards severing ties with UNRWA and preventing it from operating in Israel.
It has been the main UN relief organisation delivering aid to Palestinian refugees since 1967.
Last month, the Israeli parliament passed legislation banning the organisation from working in Israel and stopping Israeli authorities from co-operating with it.
The ban on UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) does not refer to operations in the Palestinian territories or elsewhere.
And while the legislation does not directly prohibit UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza, aid groups are concerned about the agency’s ability to work in those areas.
The Israeli government has long since been critical of the agency, accusing it of anti-Israeli bias.
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Hospitals overwhelmed in Gaza
UNRWA, which provides aid and education services to millions of Palestinians, was set up after a war broke out in 1948 following the creation of the state of Israel.
The legislation has left the UN and some of Israel’s Western allies concerned it will deteriorate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said the UN had done “nothing” despite the evidence he says the government submitted to it.
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The Israeli foreign ministry said the work of other “alternative” international organisations would be expanded.
Over 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza in Israel’s year-long war against Hamas, Palestinian health officials have said.
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They do not distinguish between civilians and fighters, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.
The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and abducting 250 others.
