Thu Jan 30 04:38:15 IST 2025: ## Gaza Faces Humanitarian Crisis as Israel Bans UNRWA

**GAZA CITY** – The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is set to cease operations in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories following a ban imposed by the Israeli Knesset. This decision has sparked widespread fear and concern among Palestinians in Gaza, who rely heavily on the agency for essential services.

The ban, effective immediately, designates UNRWA as a “terrorist” organization, a claim refuted by the international community. While Israel alleges UNRWA provides aid to Hamas, critics argue the move is a deliberate attempt to undermine the Palestinian refugee cause and erase the right of return. The timing, following Israel’s recent war with Hamas, further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the already devastated Gaza Strip.

For the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, 71% of whom are refugees, UNRWA has been a lifeline for generations, providing education, healthcare, food, and shelter. The agency’s role extends beyond humanitarian aid; it represents a symbolic link to their ancestral homes and the right to return, a key tenet of UN Resolution 194.

Eyewitnesses in Gaza described UNRWA as “a lung” and a “lifesaver,” highlighting the agency’s irreplaceable role in supporting families through periods of both peace and war. With UNRWA’s departure, residents fear a catastrophic decline in access to essential services, surpassing even the challenges posed by the recent conflict, where other aid organizations could only meet a fraction of the needs.

While aid shipments are currently reaching Gaza, the absence of UNRWA, the largest aid organization in the Strip, represents a significant gap. Concerns are amplified by past statements by US President Donald Trump suggesting Palestinians relocate to neighboring countries—a proposal firmly rejected by both Palestinian leaders and the countries in question.

Experts like Sami Mshasha, a former UNRWA spokesman, criticize not only Israel’s actions but also the agency’s leadership for a perceived lack of a clear crisis management plan. He highlighted the destruction of over 200 UNRWA facilities in Gaza and the significant financial cuts the agency has faced, including reduced funding from the US following allegations of staff involvement in the October Hamas attacks.

The closure of UNRWA, Palestinians argue, is not just a humanitarian issue but a political one aimed at extinguishing the Palestinian refugee cause and the right of return. The long-term consequences for the millions of refugees in Gaza and beyond remain deeply uncertain, leaving a population already reeling from war facing an uncertain and potentially devastating future.

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