The Knesset passes two laws against UNRWA — Key Events — Levant

What happened

The Knesset passes two laws barring UNRWA from operating in territory under Israeli sovereignty and prohibiting contact between Israeli state bodies and the agency. They take effect at the end of January 2025. A December 2025 amendment extends the prohibited "contact" to electricity, water and banking services for UNRWA facilities.

Israel's legislation turned UNRWA's operating status into a legal and humanitarian-access question in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Israel's position is that the agency is compromised; the ICJ in its October 2025 advisory opinion rejected Israel's neutrality allegations and found Israel obliged to facilitate relief including by UNRWA. Both are attributed.

Confidence: High

When28 Oct 2024 (in force Jan 2025)

KindHumanitarian · Political

Confidence: High Sources: Knesset — legislation and committee records ↗ · UNRWA situation reports and statements ↗ · International Court of Justice — proceedings concerning Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory ↗ · The Times of Israel ↗ Methodology Corrections

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Watch questions this event bears on

Standing analytical questions whose evidence runs through this event, each with its latest review. Derived from the Watch object, never restated here.

Humanitarian2026-10-12Do residents return to the Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps, or do the camps stay closed under renewed orders?Baseline
Humanitarian2026-10-12Does the regime governing what enters Gaza — the crossings, the dual-use rules, who may deliver — open, hold or tighten?Baseline

Connected records

2 records that this event names, or that name it — every one an explicit reference in a published record, nothing inferred from subject matter.

Actors2

Actor records this event names.

Where this fits

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