Thousands of Palestinian refugees face an uncertain future as Israel prepares to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The agency provides essential services, including healthcare, education, and sanitation, to millions in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. With the ban set to take effect on February 1, panic and despair are growing among those who rely on these services. The UNRWA ban threatens to upend daily life for many, leaving them without access to basic necessities.
Fear and Uncertainty
At an East Jerusalem clinic, Fatmeh Jahaleen pleads for extra medication. She depends on UNRWA for her monthly supply of insulin, blood pressure medicine, and kidney treatments. Without the agency, she would have to pay nearly 400 Israeli shekels (£90) per month—an amount she cannot afford. Routine blood tests and eye treatments will also become impossible to access.
Across Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, similar concerns are rising. When Israel passed the law banning UNRWA, Fathi Saleh, the director of services at the Shuafat refugee camp, found his office overwhelmed by worried residents. “Cutting these services is like cutting oxygen,” he said. “It will devastate people.”
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A Community at Risk
The Shuafat refugee camp, home to 30,000 people, depends on UNRWA for education, healthcare, and sanitation. The camp generates 20-25 tonnes of rubbish daily. If UNRWA’s waste collection services stop, uncollected trash will pile up, creating a health crisis.
Residents also fear the loss of education. Thousands of students attend UNRWA schools, which are within walking distance of their homes. Many families worry about how their children will continue their education if the schools close.
Israel’s Justification and Growing Tensions
Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA followed the October 7, 2023, attacks, where Hamas militants launched a deadly assault from Gaza. Israeli officials accused some UNRWA staff of having ties to Hamas. Following a UN investigation, nine employees were dismissed. However, with more than 30,000 staff members, many believe the entire agency should not be penalized for the actions of a few.
The Israeli government ordered UNRWA to vacate its offices by January 30. Right-wing officials celebrated the ban, seeing it as a victory. Meanwhile, protests erupted, and UNRWA offices in East Jerusalem were set on fire.
The Impact Beyond East Jerusalem
The crisis extends beyond East Jerusalem. In the West Bank, over 45,000 students attend UNRWA schools, and thousands rely on its primary care centers. Without the agency, many refugee camps could be left without healthcare or sanitation services.
In Gaza, where UNRWA is the largest aid provider, the consequences could be catastrophic. The agency supports over 2 million people, providing food, medical care, and shelter. The ban raises concerns about how humanitarian aid will reach those in need.
What Comes Next?
Despite the uncertainty, many UNRWA workers plan to continue their duties for as long as possible. Abu Omar, a nurse at the Shuafat clinic, remains determined. “On February 1, we will come to work,” he said. “If they try to remove us, we won’t leave voluntarily.”
Saleh believes the ban is not just about UNRWA—it is an attack on the United Nations itself. “If this ban takes effect, it will be a dark day for international law,” he said. “This is not just about services. It’s about human dignity.”
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