### EU Alarmed by Draft Israeli Legislation Targeting UNRWA's Operations

The European Union has sounded the alarm over an Israeli draft law that would prohibit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from functioning within its borders, raising significant concerns about potential impacts on aid distribution in war-torn Gaza. This development follows an Israeli parliamentary committee's decision earlier in the week to advance the bill, which seeks to halt all interactions between the Israeli government and the UN agency. The bill now requires final approval from the Knesset, Israel's legislative body, to become law.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the EU expressed deep apprehension about the implications of the proposed legislation. It underscored its support for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's stance against the draft bill, warning that its passage could severely undermine UNRWA's mission to support and protect Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. The EU appealed to Israeli authorities to permit UNRWA to continue its indispensable work, in line with its UN General Assembly mandate.

"The EU urges the Israeli authorities to ensure that UNRWA is allowed to continue carrying out its crucial work," the statement read. "UNRWA provides essential services to millions of people in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, and is a pillar of regional stability. It also plays a fundamental role in ensuring the conditions on the ground for a credible pathway towards the two-State solution."

For years, Israel has opposed UNRWA, which has been the primary entity delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in occupied territories and offering services to Palestinian refugees in several countries since 1949. Israeli officials have alleged that the agency has ties to "terrorists," advocating for its closure. Earlier this year, allegations surfaced that some UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas-led attacks on October 7, leading over a dozen international donors to suspend their financial support for the agency.

In response, the UN initiated an investigation and subsequently dismissed nine staff members, while reviewing the records of others implicated. Despite the controversy, most donors have since resumed their funding, demonstrating continued support for UNRWA's mission amid ongoing regional challenges.