Caritas is deeply concerned about the imminent implementation of the two bills[1] passed by the Israeli Parliament late October 2024, prohibiting UNRWA’s presence and operations across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
As a result, UNRWA has been ordered to vacate all premises in occupied East Jerusalem and to cease its operations by 30 January, when these laws are set to come into force.
Human suffering in Gaza and in the region is already immense. An estimated 64,260 Palestinians were killed[2] and hundreds of humanitarian aid workers, including UNRWA and Caritas personnel, have lost their lives in attacks that blatantly violate international humanitarian law and human rights law. With the delivery of life-saving aid across Gaza drastically limited by Israeli restrictions,[3] the threat of man-made famine looms over the area.[4] The suspension of UNRWA’s operations will only exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation.
Caritas stands behind UNRWA and emphasises its indispensable role in Gaza and in the whole region. The expected consequences of implementing the ban on UNRWA are far-reaching and could further devastate the lives of millions of Palestinians who rely on its essential services.
Without UNRWA’s presence, infrastructure and coordination, humanitarian responders would face significant challenges in delivering critical life-saving assistance to those in need, undermining an already fragile ceasefire agreement. Furthermore, since yesterday, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians are returning to their homes to a destroyed northern Gaza, passing through the Israeli-established Netzarim Corridor, which separates the strip. This comes after months of intense bombardment and fighting that have left Gaza in ruins. The scale of destruction is immense and the humanitarian needs are vast. In this critical phase of the ceasefire, UNRWA is more than ever needed to provide immediate relief to those affected.
Every day, UNRWA provides approximately 17,000 medical consultations[5], delivers food and manages the shelters where up to 1 million people have taken refuge. Without UNRWA, reaching 600,000 children with polio vaccines would not have been possible.
There is no other UN agency capable of carrying out this critical work in the whole region, including the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
UNRWA has been diligently implementing the recommendations of the Colonna Report, commissioned by the UN Secretary-General, in response to allegations made by Israel in January 2024. The report confirmed UNRWA’s commitment to uphold the humanitarian principle of neutrality, noting in its concluding remarks that the Agency has a “more developed approach to neutrality than similar UN entities or NGOs”.
Caritas calls on the international community to firmly oppose the ban on UNRWA and employ all legal and diplomatic avenues to urge Israel to rescind the laws and to allow UNRWA to operate unhindered and safely, with full respect for the privileges and immunities of the United Nations[6] and in accordance with international humanitarian law. Issuance of entry permits and visas for international UNRWA staff must be granted and unrestricted movement for local staff allowed.
Furthermore, Caritas urges the international community to stand behind UNRWA and to step up its financial support to enable the Agency continues its vital work.
At this critical time, it is imperative that the humanitarian community provides immediate and principled humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict. UNRWA serves as the backbone of humanitarian operations in Gaza and in the region, and its continued presence is essential to alleviating the suffering of millions of Palestinians.
We also call on the international community to take immediate steps to protect civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory in compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law, and request that independent experts and relevant international investigation mechanisms are granted unrestricted access to conduct thorough assessment of the situation on the ground and document any human rights violations and international crimes perpetrated.
In the words of Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, “banning UNRWA jeopardises the rights and lives of Palestinian refugees and denies their right to receive humanitarian assistance, enshrined in International Humanitarian Law, particularly the Geneva Conventions. We all share a moral obligation to strenuously oppose this ban to protect the wellbeing of vulnerable people and save lives
