Occupied El-Qods – United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employees vacated their offices in occupied Jerusalem on Thursday, just before the enforcement of a Zionist law banning the agency’s activities in Palestine.
According to several media reports, a somber atmosphere prevailed at UNRWA’s historic headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah, in the eastern, occupied part of El-Qods. The employees were required to leave by Thursday, January 30, the date on which two laws prohibiting UNRWA’s operations came into effect, in blatant violation of fundamental international law principles.
The first law bans UNRWA activities in occupied Palestine, while the second law prohibits Zionist officials from collaborating with the humanitarian agency and its employees, a move that will significantly disrupt the agency’s operations.
“It’s shocking,” said Jonathan Fowler, spokesperson for the agency established by a UN mandate in 1949. He sees the closure of its offices as “a direct attack on the right of return for Palestinian refugees.” His work visa, along with those of about 40 other international staff members, expired on January 29, forcing them to relocate to Jordan.
As of now, the implementation of these Zionist laws remains unclear. “We have not received any official communication on how this law will be applied,” Fowler explained. “Today, we don’t know how humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza will be affected, or whether our schools and health centers will need to close suddenly in occupied El-Qods .”
UNRWA provides free services such as education and healthcare to nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees across five countries, including 2.4 million in 19 camps in the West Bank and eight camps in Gaza. The agency employs about 30,000 people.
In occupied East El-Qods , UNRWA activities include waste collection, a major employment center, six schools serving 750 students—mostly from the Shuafat refugee camp—and two health centers. These services are expected to be abolished under the new law.
In occupied West Bank areas, while the agency’s services may not be immediately threatened, concerns remain over funding. “We can pay the salaries for January, but beyond that, we don’t know,” said the director of one camp, as reported by the media. “It’s month-to-month management.”
