Israel's ban on UNRWA could be devastating for Palestinian refugees: Guterres

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday that the Israeli parliament's legislation banning a UN agency's operations could have "devastating consequences" for Palestinian refugees, calling it "unacceptable".

The Knesset, the Israeli parliament, passed two laws on Monday. One barred the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from activity in Israel. The law stipulates that UNRWA could not "operate any institution, provide any service, or conduct any activity, whether directly or indirectly" within Israeli territory.

Another banned Israeli authorities from any contact with UNRWA.

The laws would be "detrimental for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for peace and security in the region as a whole", Guterres said in a statement.

"I am deeply concerned" by the two laws since UNRWA is the primary provider of essential aid to Palestinian refugees, he added. "There is no alternative to UNRWA."

He urged Israel to adhere to the UN Charter and international law, including humanitarian law and provisions regarding UN privileges and immunities. "National legislation cannot alter those obligations," he said.

Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA's commissioner-general, said Monday that the Israeli laws set "a dangerous precedent."

"These bills will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians," he said on X.