Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Petitions Against UNRWA Ban in Israel

The Israeli Supreme Court (High Court of Justice) dismissed petitions filed by left-wing and human rights organizations, including Adalah and Gisha, challenging laws passed by the Knesset that prohibit UNRWA's operations within Israel. The petitions were withdrawn by the petitioners following a court hearing held about a week prior, during which judges indicated the petitions lacked sufficient evidence of specific harm caused by the laws. The court ruled the petitions "are struck out without a costs order," preserving the petitioners' rights to raise their claims in future proceedings.

The UNRWA laws, recently enacted by the Knesset, impose a complete ban on the agency's activities on Israeli territory, annul the historic 1967 agreement with UNRWA, and sever all official and infrastructural ties, including water, electricity, and banking services. This legislative move was driven by intelligence and evidence suggesting that dozens of UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7 attacks, including massacres, kidnappings, and terrorism, with hundreds linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Israeli lawmakers also emphasized that UNRWA facilities have been regularly used as terrorist infrastructure hideouts and that the agency's education system perpetuates incitement against Israel and supports terrorism, effectively making UNRWA a body serving Hamas rather than a neutral aid organization.

Since Jerusalem is under full Israeli sovereignty, the government has rigorously enforced the law, evacuating and demolishing UNRWA's main compound in Jerusalem, as well as key sites in Ma'alot Dafna and Kfar Aqab. Israeli flags were raised at these locations, and the municipality alongside government ministries nationalized civil services, replacing UNRWA schools and clinics with Israel's official education and health systems.