Mon Feb 17 23:49:29 UTC 2025: ## Netanyahu Orders Immediate Enforcement of Law Ending UNRWA Operations in Israel
**JERUSALEM** – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the immediate enforcement of a controversial law effectively ending the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) within Israel’s borders. The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, passed the law with broad support earlier this year.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced the directive on social media, stating there are no restrictions on its implementation. This follows earlier actions by Israel, including an order for UNRWA to vacate premises in occupied East Jerusalem by January 30th, 2025.
The law marks a significant escalation in Israel’s long-standing tensions with UNRWA, which provides essential services – including healthcare, education, and vocational training – to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The agency was established in 1949 in the aftermath of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war to assist those displaced.
The decision has drawn sharp international condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres previously warned of “devastating consequences” from an effective ban on UNRWA. Other UN officials have described the move as “dangerous,” “outrageous,” and tantamount to “collective punishment.”
The timing of the enforcement order comes after the US significantly reduced funding for UNRWA earlier this year. The long-term impact on the Palestinian population reliant on UNRWA services remains to be seen. The international community is expected to react strongly to this latest development.
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