UNRWA

Established in 1949, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) is responsible for supporting the needs of Palestinian refugees. It is regarded as the ‘backbone’ of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and three neighboring countries, where it operates schools and health centers. On Jan. 30, 2025, Israel implemented a ban preventing UNRWA from operating in its territory. Israeli authorities accuse UNRWA of being involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, a claim that led major donors to halt their funding to the agency last year. A U.N. investigation in August found that only nine UNRWA staff members "may have been involved" in the attack.