The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has sharply criticized new Israeli legislation restricting UNRWA’s activities, warning that it directly undermines international law and the agency’s mandate.
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Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), described as “outrageous” the vote by Israel’s parliament approving new legal measures against the humanitarian agency. In a post on X, Lazzarini said the legislation “constitutes a direct affront to the mandate given to the Agency by the UN General Assembly” and violates rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Israel’s Knesset approved on Monday, in second and third readings, an amendment to a January 2025 law that bans UNRWA’s activities within Israeli territory. The measure passed with 59 votes in favor and seven against. Lazzarini stated that “the legislation cuts off the supply of water, electricity, fuel and communications to UNRWA and grants the Government of Israel the authority to expropriate UN properties in East Jerusalem, including UNRWA’s headquarters and its main vocational training center.”
“The vote by the Israeli parliament on 29 December 2025 passing new legislation against UNRWA is outrageous. It is a direct affront to the mandate granted to the Agency by the UN General Assembly and contrary to findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which… pic.twitter.com/6tomQEoldS
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 30, 2025
He also noted that the law explicitly excludes UNRWA from Israeli legislation recognizing UN privileges and immunities, which he described as “a clear violation of the obligations of the State of Israel under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.”
During the parliamentary debate, Israeli lawmaker Boaz Bismut accused UNRWA of being “an arm of Hamas,” alleging involvement of agency staff in the events of October 7. However, the ICJ has indicated that Israel has not presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate a lack of neutrality by the agency or to substantiate claims that a significant portion of its staff is linked to armed groups.
Lazzarini further denounced unilateral actions on the ground, including Israeli officials entering UNRWA facilities in East Jerusalem and the forced closure of its schools, which deprived hundreds of refugee children of their right to education. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, described the law on X as “another violation of international law.”
The new legislation expands restrictions imposed since January 2025, which had already banned UNRWA operations in occupied East Jerusalem and suspended all contact between Israeli officials and the agency. Lazzarini emphasized that “the ICJ has ruled that UNRWA’s services are essential for the fulfillment of the UN’s commitment to the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination.”
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