Malta ‘Deeply Concerned’ By Israel’s Ban On UNRWA But Stops Short Of Condemnation
The Maltese government has stopped short of condemning Israel’s decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine from operating in Israel, opting instead to express “deep concern” over the move which it says will “only worsen the situation”.
Last week, Israel’s Knesset passed a law to ban UNRWA from operating within Israeli-controlled territories within 90 days, due to links it claims exist between Hamas and the agency. Israel has accused UNRWA employees of involvement in the 7th October attacks, however an investigation by the UN’s Internal Oversight Services found no evidence substantiating any widespread involvement of the agency with Hamas.
Lovin Malta initially sought direct comments from Malta’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Vanessa Frazier, or at least a response attributed to her office. However, a spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry later stepped in, providing a statement in which Malta expressed being “deeply concerned” about Israel’s legislative changes, which they said were aimed at crippling UNRWA’s operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
“UNRWA is, and remains, a stabilising force in the region and the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza—a response that Israeli authorities have repeatedly obstructed,” the spokesperson said, adding that the Knesset’s decision disregards international concerns and would “only worsen the situation”.
The spokesperson went on to assert that Israel’s move is “inconsistent with the obligations of UN member states to protect, support, and facilitate the work of UN agencies inside their territories and in territories they control”.
However, when pressed on whether Malta would formally condemn the decision, the spokesperson stated: “There is nothing more to add to the statement already provided. We think it is quite clear.”
A Diplomatic Tightrope Walk
The Ministry’s reluctance to issue a direct condemnation aligns with the cautious language used by many Western nations, yet it feels at odds with Malta’s traditionally strong support for the Palestinian cause.
Despite clearly acknowledging the severity of Israel’s actions, Malta stops short of condemning them outright—raising questions about how far a situation must go before a more decisive stance is warranted. In the last month alone, Israel has banned UNRWA, killed several UN aid workers, and opened fire on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, wounding several. With these escalating actions against UN personnel and agencies, Malta’s response reflects an awareness of the injustice but hesitates to voice what many are already thinking: when do we call for accountability, and should Israel’s actions within the UN itself be questioned?
UNRWA was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949 after 700,000 Palestinians were displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war—a catastrophe known across the Arab world as the Nakba. Established to provide essential humanitarian relief and services typically supplied by a state, UNRWA exists largely because Palestinians are denied these services under occupation.
Today, UNRWA is a vital lifeline for millions of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, where it is the only entity providing consistent humanitarian aid to a population displaced repeatedly by conflict. Yet the spokesperson stressed that expecting any other agency to replace UNRWA was “unrealistic” and would “significantly worsen the humanitarian situation”.
“The agency operates in strict accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law, and any attempt to replace it with alternative modalities that do not align with these principles cannot be considered,” they added.
Malta Continues To Support UNRWA
The Foreign Ministry affirmed that Malta has long supported UNRWA both politically and financially, including through donations in 2024, at a time when the agency faced funding cuts from Western countries following Israel’s accusations related to the 7th October attacks. These cuts came shortly after the International Court of Justice suggested that Israel’s actions in Gaza could constitute genocide.
Malta’s statement also included a commitment to “engage in all efforts to address this situation” and repeated its call for Israel to reconsider its decision and ensure UNRWA’s access to those in need. “These decisions are inconsistent with international law, disregard a decision of the General Assembly, and will have immediate devastating implications for millions of Palestine refugees in the region,” the spokesperson said.
“As a committed multilateralist, Malta will continue to work with partners to address this situation in a timely and satisfactory manner and ensure that the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza are prioritised.”
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