UNITED STATES: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, October 30, protesting a new law that could effectively cripple the UN agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Regulations Israeli parliament approves banning UN agency Preventing them from operating in Israel and occupying East Jerusalem and preventing them from communicating and coordinating with Israeli officials, which would essentially end their work in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Israel has long been at odds with UNRWA, alleging that some of its employees were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks that triggered the war in Gaza.

The ban will begin in three months.

In the letter seen by AFP, Guterres said the law could have “devastating consequences” for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank because there was no reasonable alternative to UNRWA to provide the aid and assistance these people need.

“I call on you and the Israeli government to prevent such devastating consequences and allow UNRWA to continue its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, in accordance with its obligations under international law,” Guterres said.

The agency was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949, following the first Arab-Israeli war, shortly after the establishment of Israel in May 1948 and the subsequent mass displacement of Palestinians.

Guterres argued that under international law, an occupying power must implement mechanisms to assist people living in the occupied territory.

“As the occupying power, Israel continues to be called upon to ensure that the needs of the people are met,” Guterres wrote.

“If Israel is not in a position to meet such needs, it has an obligation to permit and facilitate the activities of the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations, including UNRWA, until the needs of Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are met,” he added.