The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) welcomes the recent vote in the Knesset to restrict the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) within Israel and to significantly curtail its operations in Gaza and the West Bank. This landmark decision, passed with an overwhelming majority despite international pressure, underscores Israel’s commitment to countering organisations that compromise security and stability.
UNRWA, originally established in 1949 with a humanitarian mandate, has regrettably transformed into an agency that actively undermines peace and security. Far from genuinely assisting Palestinian civilians, UNRWA has become a front for Hamas, consistently aiding and abetting its operations, while neglecting the genuine needs of the Palestinian people.
By ignoring Hamas’s influence within its ranks, and its staff members’ participation in the October 7 massacre and subsequent fighting, UNRWA perpetuates a system where extremism is normalised, and the fundamental welfare of civilians is disregarded. Rather than fostering development and peace, the agency has entrenched a cycle of dependency and hostility in the region.
The NJA is also deeply disappointed with the United Kingdom’s continued support for UNRWA, despite mounting evidence of the agency’s extensive ties to Hamas. Reports indicate that a substantial number of UNRWA employees are either affiliated with or sympathetic to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.
This overlap between UNRWA staff and Hamas, coupled with UNRWA’s failure to address it, seriously undermines the agency’s credibility. By continuing to back UNRWA in its current form, the UK and other international supporters are effectively endorsing an organisation that enables extremism, rather than providing meaningful assistance to Palestinians.
By passing this legislation, Israel has taken a brave and necessary step to ensure that international aid does not become a conduit for radicalisation. Limiting UNRWA’s operations is fundamentally about breaking the yolk of dependency and may pave the way for Palestinians to pursue peace.
The NJA stands with Israel in its pursuit of a secure, peaceful future and calls on the international community to respect this decision, re-evaluate their support for UNRWA, and commit to transparent aid mechanisms that prioritise peace.
