"The Israeli Knesset has passed a preliminary reading of a bill designating the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as a terrorist organization.
The bill, introduced by MK Yulia Malinovsky, passed with a 42-6 majority on Wednesday. It seeks to abolish the immunities and privileges currently enjoyed by UNRWA employees.
The bill, formally titled the ‘Bill to Abolish the Immunity and Privileges of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),’ comes in response to evidence suggesting links between UNRWA employees and Hamas. If passed in the final reading, the Anti-Terrorism Law will apply to UNRWA, ending all ties between Israel and the agency and closing its assets in Israeli territory.
The abolition of privileges aims to revoke immunities established by the 1947 United Nations Privileges and Immunities Ordinance, which granted the UN and its officials exemptions from legal action, taxes, import and export bans, and other regulations. The Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister will determine the cancellation of UNRWA's diplomatic immunity.
The bill's passage is driven by substantial evidence of UNRWA's alleged involvement with Hamas. This includes the discovery of Hamas tunnels beneath UNRWA schools and collaboration between UNRWA employees and Hamas during the October 7 attacks.
The IDF has reported finding a tunnel leading to an underground Hamas shelter beneath UNRWA's headquarters in Gaza, equipped with weapons and supplied with electricity from UNRWA facilities..."