In a major shift, Israel’s parliament has voted to ban the UN’s Palestine aid agency, UNRWA, from operating within Israel and its controlled territories.

This means that this ban will effectively be halting services to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

Set to take effect in as little as 90 days, the ban strips access to crucial health, education, and aid services.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that the move “sets a dangerous precedent” and threatens to deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis.

Palestinian leaders in Ramallah went further, with spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh calling it a sign of Israel’s “transformation into a fascist state.”

Israel claims UNRWA has ties to Hamas, citing alleged connections among its staff—an accusation the agency firmly denies, asserting it quickly removes anyone with such links.

The ban has drawn international criticism, with the U.S. expressing “deep concern” and EU’s Josep Borrell declaring the move a stark violation of international humanitarian principles.

He noted that cutting off UNRWA’s operations would cripple essential services in Gaza, intensifying an already fragile humanitarian crisis.

In Gaza, where the UNRWA workforce is 13,000 strong, the ban leaves no alternative plan for essential services, adding new urgency to calls for humanitarian access amidst intensifying regional conflict.

What do you make of this shocking development?