October 29, 2024: In a significant political move, Israel's parliament passed a bill on October 28 that effectively bans the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within Israeli borders and in occupied East Jerusalem. This decision has ignited widespread international backlash and raised concerns over the future of humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.

Lawmakers backing the bill, including Yuli Edelstein, have accused UNRWA of maintaining a "deep connection" with the militant group Hamas, stating, "Israel cannot put up with it." The agency has been providing essential services—healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid—to Palestinian refugees for over 70 years.

The ban has drawn fierce criticism from various factions. Hamas condemned the legislation as "Zionist aggression," while its ally, Islamic Jihad, labeled it an "escalation in the genocide" against Palestinians. UNRWA's Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, described the ban as part of an ongoing campaign to discredit the agency, warning that it "will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians."

International responses have also been swift. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed "grave concern," and Germany cautioned that the ban would jeopardize vital humanitarian aid for millions in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

In response to the escalating tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to social media, asserting that Israel is "ready" to continue humanitarian assistance in ways that ensure national security is not compromised.