Adnan Abu Hasna, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), revealed that Israel has not officially informed the agency about its decision to confiscate the land on which its headquarters in Jerusalem is located, planning to transform the site into a new settlement area.
Abu Hasna, in an exclusive statement to Sky News Arabia, said, “We heard about this Israeli decision through the media, and we have not been officially notified yet.” He emphasized that this decision is part of a series of increasing attacks on UNRWA, which have become more serious and dangerous, involving legislation being presented to the Israeli Knesset.
In July, the Israeli Knesset approved the first reading of three bills that classify UNRWA as a “terrorist organization,” with these laws still under discussion.
UNRWA has been actively involved in addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza amidst ongoing conflict. Since the war began, UNRWA has provided substantial health services, including over 5.87 million medical consultations and the vaccination of 193,000 children. The agency operates medical points offering primary healthcare services and has managed to continue its operations despite the challenging circumstances. Additionally, UNRWA has focused on psychological support and educational activities, helping over 659,000 children with psychosocial support and learning services through its “Back to Learning” initiative. This effort aims to help children cope with trauma and continue their education in makeshift school settings.
UNRWA has also been a major provider of food security, reaching nearly 1.9 million people with essential food supplies. The agency distributes food parcels designed to cover about 90% of daily caloric needs. Moreover, UNRWA plays a critical role in the provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, ensuring access to clean water and hygiene facilities for hundreds of thousands of displaced persons.
