**New Israeli Laws Threaten Operations of Key U.N. Aid Agency in Gaza**

Israeli lawmakers have approved two controversial laws that could significantly impact the work of the main U.N. agency providing aid in Gaza. The laws, passed on Monday with significant majorities, threaten to bar the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating on Israeli soil, effectively severing ties and labeling it a terror organization. The international community has expressed deep concern over the potential ramifications for Palestinian civilians amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The first law prohibits UNRWA from conducting "any activity" or offering services within Israel, while the second law terminates Israel's diplomatic relations with the agency. Although these laws are not yet in effect, their passage signals a deterioration in the already strained relationship between Israel and the U.N. Israel's global allies, including the United States, have voiced alarm about the potential consequences for Palestinian aid distribution.

UNRWA has been accused by Israel of employing staff members with ties to Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza. Allegations include participation in attacks and the presence of Hamas military assets in UNRWA facilities. In response to these accusations, UNRWA has dismissed nine employees but maintains it does not knowingly assist armed groups and acts swiftly to remove any suspected militants.

UNRWA has faced direct consequences during the conflict, with over 200 of its employees reportedly killed. Although Israel has conducted raids on UNRWA schools and facilities over suspicions of militant activity, the agency insists such actions further exacerbate the plight of Palestinians.

Lawmaker Boaz Bismuth, a co-sponsor of one of the bills, defended the legislation, calling UNRWA "an aid agency for Hamas." In contrast, UNRWA's chief, Philippe Lazzarini, decried the laws as part of an ongoing effort to undermine the agency, warning they will only increase Palestinian suffering.

Both laws passed by considerable margins, the first with a vote of 92-10 and the second 87-9, after heated debates primarily opposed by Arab parliamentary members. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated readiness to work with international partners to continue facilitating humanitarian aid, though specific plans remain unclear.

The ramifications of these new laws are profound. The legal changes not only strip UNRWA of immunities but also limit its capacity to support Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. The absence of alternative organizations to fill the void left by UNRWA could deeply affect the lives of approximately 1.9 million displaced Palestinians in Gaza, who are already facing severe shortages of essential supplies.

International aid organizations and Western allies, including the U.S., have strongly condemned the legislation. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that UNRWA's crucial role cannot be easily replaced amid the ongoing crisis, underscoring the importance of the agency's work in providing education, healthcare, and basic services to millions of Palestinian refugees.