The UN’s founding charter dictates that, in its operations, all nations should extend their support to the United Nations. As the force currently occupying Gaza, it is incumbent upon Israel, under international law, to endorse and facilitate any relief programmes for the needy using all available resources. However, the functioning of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – a major source of relief in Gaza – is set to meet serious disruption following Israel’s Knesset decision to halt its operations in Israel and forbid cooperation from the government. The move is slated to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by causing severe disruption to food supply. This action, which has been met with widespread disapproval, comes in the wake of the US admonishing Israel, warning the country to mitigate the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, or risk military aid restrictions.
Simultaneously, Norway is preparing to approach the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) – an institution that has recently claimed the occupation of Gaza, along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as unlawful – to seek more clarity on the legality of these bans. Despite assertions denying the same, Israel’s ongoing indifference and possible hostility towards adherence to international law is apparent. Particularly concerning is the legal consensus that the continuing bombing of civilians in Gaza lacks proportion.
In the past, UNRWA has been condemned by Israel, with allegations that the agency contributes to the ongoing issue of the returning displaced refugees from Israel in 1948. Charges have also been levelled against the agency for purported collaborations with Hamas. January saw a significant reduction in international contributions, motivated largely by revealing information about a dozen Hamas militants who participated in a violent attack on October 7th, being on the UNRWA payroll. Although Israel accused the organisation of collusion, UNRWA, employing more than 13,000 personnel in Gaza, promptly dismissed nine of its workers and strongly refuted allegations of infiltration by Hamas.
In a subsequent examination of UNRWA, presided over by the former Premier of France, Catherine Collona, the agency was deemed crucial and unparalleled in its assistance to the Palestinian people, notwithstanding some faults. Hence, a plea was made to reinstate their funding, which apart from the US, all nations have rightfully complied with.