Israel votes to ban UN aid agency

Legislation passed by Israel’s parliament could prevent the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, a main provider of aid to Gaza, from being able to continue its work
   

WHAT IS UNRWA?

Origin: UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) established in 1949 to support 700,000 Palestinians displaced by 1948 Arab-Israeli War
            
Operations: Agency now provides education, health and other basic services to almost six million Palestinian refugees across Middle East

Staff: Over 30,000. One-third of them are in Gaza, where almost entire population of 2.3 million is dependent on aid to survive

Funding: More than 90% comes from voluntary contributions by UN member states
  
Criticism: Israel accuses agency of colluding with Hamas militants in Gaza and alleges some UNRWA employees were involved in attacks of Oct 7, 2023


ISRAELI LEGISLATION
  
Bars UNRWA from operating in Israel, severely restricting its work in occupied West Bank and Gaza. Ban to take effect in 90 days


UNRWA-REGISTERED REFUGEES
(Millions)

0.49 LEBANON 
0.57 SYRIA 
ISRAEL
0.91 WEST BANK
GAZA 1.48 
JORDAN 2.31

200km 125 miles


Sources: AP, BBC, UNRWA 
Picture: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS