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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/direct-affront-israel-approves-bill-to-cut-unrwas-electricity-water-supplies/">palestinechronicle.com</a>
<div class="gmail-domain-border"></div><h1 class="gmail-reader-title">\u2018Direct Affront\u2019 \u2013 Israel Approves Bill to Cut UNRWA\u2019s Electricity, Water Supplies</h1>December 30, 2025</div>
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<img src="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/UNRWA_School_social.png" alt="" title="UNRWA_School_social" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" width="521" height="350" style="margin-right: 25px;">
UNRWA training center in occupied Jerusalem. (Photo: via social media)
<blockquote>
<h3>During the voting session, Israeli Energy and Infrastructure
Minister Eli Cohen defended the bill, alleging that UNRWA served as an
operational arm of Hamas.</h3>
</blockquote>
<p>The Israeli Knesset on Monday gave final approval to a bill to
prohibit electricity and water supplies to offices of the UN agency for
Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), with immediate effect.</p>
<p>The move has been condemned by UNRWA as \u201coutrageous\u201d and \u201ca direct
affront\u201d to the mandate granted to the agency by the UN General
Assembly.</p>
<p>Israeli lawmakers approved the bill in its second and third readings,
with 59 Knesset members voting in favor and seven opposed in the
120-seat parliament, the Anadolu news agency reported, citing Israeli
Army Radio.</p>
<p>Under Israeli law, legislation must pass three readings in the Knesset before it becomes binding.</p>
<h4>Allegations</h4>
<p>During the voting session, Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister
Eli Cohen defended the bill, alleging that UNRWA served as an
operational arm of Hamas.</p>
<p>Cohen dismissed the agency\u2019s humanitarian role in serving millions of
Palestinian refugees, saying an organization he claimed fosters
incitement and violence \u201chas no right to continue to exist,\u201d according
to Israeli media.</p>
<p>He also attacked Arab members of the Knesset who opposed the bill,
calling them a \u201cfifth column\u201d and saying they had no place in the
Israeli parliament.</p>
<p>The move comes as Palestinians\u2019 reliance on UNRWA services has grown
following two years of Israel\u2019s genocidal assault on the Gaza Strip,
before a ceasefire took effect last month.</p>
<h4>\u2018Clear Violation\u2019 of Israel\u2019s Obligations</h4>
<p>UNRWA\u2019s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the new legislation.</p>
<p>\u201cIt is a direct affront to the mandate granted to the Agency by the
UN General Assembly and contrary to findings of the International Court
of Justice (ICJ), which oblige Israel to fulfil its responsibilities as a
UN Member State to UNRWA and the broader UN system,\u201d Lazzarini said in a
statement on X on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Lazzarini explained that the legislation cuts off water, electricity,
fuel, and communications from UNRWA and grants the government of Israel
authority to expropriate UN properties in East Jerusalem, including
UNRWA\u2019s headquarters and its main vocational training centre.</p>
<p>Furthermore, he stated, the bill explicitly excludes UNRWA from
Israeli law enacting Israel\u2019s obligations under the Convention on the
Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.</p>
<p>\u201cThis stands in clear violation of the State of Israel\u2019s obligations under international law,\u201d Lazzarini stressed.</p>
<h4>Extension of Previous Laws</h4>
<p>This latest move \u201cextends the laws\u201d passed last year and implemented
since January 2025 that banned UNRWA\u2019s operations in occupied East
Jerusalem and halted all contact between Israeli officials and UNRWA,
the statement noted.</p>
<p>Lazzarini emphasized that the new legislation \u201cis a further blow to
the multilateral system,\u201d and part of \u201can ongoing, systematic campaign
to\u202fdiscredit\u202fUNRWA\u202fand thereby obstruct the core role that the Agency
plays in providing human-development\u202fassistance\u202fand services
to\u202fPalestine Refugees.\u201d</p>
<p>These, he explained, are services \u201cwhich the ICJ has ruled are
essential for delivering on the UN\u2019s commitment to the rights of the
Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination.\u201d</p>
<h4>ICJ\u2019s Rulings</h4>
<p>In October, the ICJ <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/icj-rules-on-aid-entry-to-gaza-this-is-what-it-said/">restated</a> that Israel \u201cis obliged under international law to facilitate UNRWA\u2019s operations, not hinder or prevent them.\u201d</p>
<p>\u201cThis new legislation is an unacceptable rejection of the ICJ\u2019s findings,\u201d Lazzarini sated.</p>
<p>He stressed that Israel is obliged to act within the UN framework and
\u201cnot take unilateral action contrary to its obligations\u201d under the UN
Charter.</p>
<p>\u201cShould Israel dispute the actions of UNRWA, it must refer the issue
to the UN\u2019s deliberative bodies and seek a decisive ruling from the ICJ.
A failure to do so disrespects the procedures critical to the operation
of the UN system,\u201d the UNRWA chief stated.</p>
<h4>Disregard for International Law</h4>
<p>He also pointed out that despite Israel\u2019s obligations, \u201cthese
legislative steps have been accompanied by unilateral actions on the
ground that show a repeated disregard for international law.\u201d</p>
<p>Earlier this month, Israeli officials stormed UNRWA\u2019s compound in
East Jerusalem and tore down the UN flag, replacing it with an Israeli
flag. While in May, they forced the closure of UNRWA\u2019s schools in East
Jerusalem, \u201cdepriving hundreds of Palestine Refugee children of their
right to education,\u201d Lazzarini said.</p>
<blockquote><p><a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/blatant-disregard-israel-raids-unrwa-premises-un-flag-replaced-with-israeli-flag/">\u2018Blatant Disregard\u2019 \u2013 Israel Raids UNRWA Premises, UN Flag Replaced with Israeli Flag</a></p></blockquote>
<p>He emphasized that the rights of Palestinian refugees \u201cexist separate
to UNRWA, under international human rights law, international
humanitarian law, and UN General Assembly resolutions, including
Resolution 194, adopted in 1948, a year before UNRWA was created
in\u202fResolution 302.\u201d</p>
<p>\u201cEven if UNRWA no longer existed, these rights would endure,\u201d he stated.</p>
<p>Lazzarini warned that this move by the Knesset \u201ccreates a grave
precedent for other conflict situations where governments may wish
to\u202feliminate\u202fan inconvenient UN presence.\u201d</p>
<p>In October 2024, the Knesset also gave final approval to a separate
law banning UNRWA activities in Israel, citing allegations that some of
the agency\u2019s staff took part in the October 7, 2023, events \u2013 claims the
UN agency denies.</p>
<h4>Staggering Death Toll</h4>
<p>The Israeli military, with American support, has killed over 71,200
Palestinians, with more than 171,000 wounded, since October 2023. The
vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction
of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of
people are still missing.</p>
<blockquote><p><a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-air-raids-hit-rafah-khan-yunis-and-central-gaza-amid-worsening-conditions/">Israeli Air Raids Hit Rafah, Khan Yunis, and Central Gaza amid Worsening Conditions</a></p></blockquote>
<p>In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a
man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of
Palestinians\u2014mostly children\u2014with hundreds of thousands more at risk.</p>
<p>Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done
to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation
for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war
criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially
wanted by the International Criminal Court.</p>
<p><em>(PC, Anadolu)</em></p>
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