The Israeli Knesset will start its Winter Session on Oct. 28 with an expected vote on two bills that would prevent Israeli officials from working with the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This would effectively ban humanitarian workers from the UNRWA from entering or working in Gaza, according to the [New York Times](Israel’s Knesset to Consider Bills on Conscription, UNRWA and More: What To Know). The Israeli government has frequently charged that UNRWA allows Hamas militants within its ranks, a charge that UNRWA has vehemently denied. The UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza. The legislation does not propose any other alternative structure to provide needed aid to the desperate civilians.
A statement by foreign ministers from Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom on October 27 condemns the Israeli legislation and supported the UNRWA. In a separate statement the U.S. government has also expressed continued support for the UNRWA.
