Malta joined six countries condemning Israel’s latest legislation that targets the facilities of the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) including cutting water power and communications, calling the action a violation of international law.
Malta, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain noted that this legislation runs counter to the findings of the International Court of Justice, while risking grave humanitarian consequences for the Palestinian civilian population and refugees.
They further called on Israel to ensure that established international NGOs continue to be permitted to operate in Gaza and that any deregistrations be halted.
“INGOs constitute a significant part of all humanitarian and especially health services in Gaza and the West Bank,” the statement reads.
The nations noted the work of the UN and particularly the UNRWA as essential to confront the catastrophic humanitarian situation and to deliver life-saving assistance and essential services to the civilian population in Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the wider region.
They concluded by reiterating the obligation to ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and to enable the continued functioning of UN humanitarian operations and their partners, in line with international legal obligations
“Respect for the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and for international humanitarian law is imperative.”
Building upon legislation enacted in late 2024, Israel has significantly intensified its legal campaign against UNRWA by criminalising even the most basic administrative interactions. According to reports from The Times of Israel, the updated law now classifies the provision of essential utilities as a form of prohibited “contact,” effectively cutting off the agency’s access to state-managed infrastructure.
Furthermore, the state has granted itself the authority to seize UNRWA-leased properties throughout Jerusalem without the traditional requirement of legal or administrative proceedings, marking a sharp departure from standard property law.
This crackdown on UNRWA is part of a much broader expulsion of international humanitarian actors from the region. At the beginning of this year, Israel revoked the operating licenses of 37 prominent aid organisations, including Doctors Without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Caritas Internationalis. The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has mandated a total cessation of their humanitarian activities by 1st March, citing an alleged failure by these groups to adhere to necessary security and transparency protocols.
The underlying justification for these aggressive measures remains Israel’s long-standing accusation that UNRWA is inextricably linked to militant activity. The Israeli government alleges that approximately 10% of the agency’s workforce has ties to terrorist organisations and that staff members were complicit in the October 2023 attacks.
While Israel maintains these measures are necessary for national security, UNRWA has consistently and strongly rejected these claims, defending its status as a neutral provider of essential aid to Palestinian refugees.