**UNRWA Faces New Challenges Amid Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza**

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) voiced its concerns over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating that a significant turning point has not yet been reached despite a year filled with harrowing accounts. Sam Rose, UNRWA's senior deputy director in Gaza, highlighted the global attention on the region but lamented the lack of substantive change.

In a controversial move on Monday, Israel's parliament passed two bills that bar UNRWA from operating within its borders and classify the agency as a terrorist organization. This legislation has triggered international condemnation, with several governments labeling the move as illegal and reiterating their support for UNRWA.

These new laws are set to severely curtail the agency’s activities, particularly in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by blocking humanitarian aid routes, closing the East Jerusalem office, and restricting work permits for UNRWA staff. The agency, which employs over 13,000 individuals in Gaza, is integral to providing education, health services, and emergency relief to more than 1 million Palestinian refugees who rely on its assistance for survival.

Since the onset of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in October 2023, civilian life has been devastated. Research from Forensic Architecture indicates that up to 90 percent of Gaza's population suffers from critical hunger levels, and the death toll has surpassed 43,000, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Ahead of the enforcement of these new laws, Rose described the situation in Gaza as a nightmare, expressing his amazement at the global inaction. He pointed out the double standards in the international response, suggesting that global reactions would be vastly different if another population were in Gaza's situation.

The move to ban UNRWA comes on the heels of allegations that some of its employees were complicit in the October 7 Hamas attacks that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis. These suspicions had previously caused several EU countries and other international donors to halt financial support to the agency in January, although funding was later reinstated.

The United Nations conducted an internal investigation, resulting in the dismissal of nine UNRWA employees over suspected involvement in the October 7 attacks. Further complications arose when it was discovered that an employee was a Hamas commander in Lebanon.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed the agency's dismay at any involvement in the attacks, calling it a betrayal of their mission. The agency has long battled misinformation, which has only been exacerbated since the conflict intensified in October.

Reacting strongly to Israel’s actions, international entities including the EU have condemned the bans and emphasized the vital role UNRWA plays. Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, and the European Council have both reiterated their support for the organization and rejected the terrorist designation.

The agency also suffered a significant loss with the deaths of six staff members in a September airstrike, further escalating fears among the remaining employees. Rose reported that many staff members now avoid wearing UN insignia to prevent becoming targets.

A total of over 260 UNRWA staff have died in Gaza, a grim statistic that underscores the dire situation UNRWA operates within. Rose noted the frustration among staff regarding the U.N.'s inability to ensure their safety. The lack of media access has compounded the agency's struggles, leaving UNRWA as one of the few organizations maintaining a visible presence in the region.

Despite the severe challenges, Rodriguez underscored that the ultimate objective is to achieve a political resolution and safeguard what little remains in Gaza, rather than merely protecting the agency.