What is Unrwa and why has Israel banned it?

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been a focal point of international efforts to provide aid and support to Palestinian refugees since its establishment in 1949. Operative across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, UNRWA's mission is to assist Palestinian refugees in achieving their full potential in human development despite their challenging circumstances. However, the agency has found itself under increasing scrutiny and criticism, particularly from Israel, which has recently escalated to a ban by the Israeli government. In this context, it's pivotal to understand what UNRWA is and the reasons behind the ban imposed by Israel. ### The Genesis and Mission of UNRWA UNRWA was created in the aftermath of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, primarily to provide relief to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced or left as refugees due to the conflict. Since then, its role has evolved to encompass education, healthcare, social services, and even infrastructure development in Palestinian refugee camps. Today, UNRWA reports that it serves approximately 5.7 million registered Palestinian refugees, a testament to the scale of its operations and the depth of the crisis it addresses. UNRWA operates one of the largest school systems in the Middle East, providing education to over half a million children. It also runs health clinics, provides emergency response, and engages in microfinance initiatives aimed at improving the economic conditions of Palestinian refugees. Despite the