In December 2025, the UN chief condemned Israeli amendments targeting the operations of what relief agency?

In December 2025, the United Nations Secretary-General strongly condemned amendments passed by Israel's Knesset that targeted the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, commonly known as UNRWA. These amendments, adopted on December 29, 2025, were designed to impede UNRWA's ability to carry out its essential mandated activities, prompting the UN chief to call for their immediate repeal.

UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 in the aftermath of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict to provide relief and services to Palestinian refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods. For decades, the agency has been a critical lifeline, offering education, healthcare, relief, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It remains one of the largest UN programs in the region, with its operations being particularly indispensable in areas like Gaza, which has faced severe humanitarian crises.

Israel has long expressed grievances with UNRWA, alleging that the agency perpetuates the Palestinian refugee issue. These tensions escalated significantly in early 2024 following Israeli allegations that some UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7 attacks, leading to a temporary suspension of funding from several donor countries, though many later resumed. In October 2024, Israel's Knesset passed laws banning UNRWA from operating within Israeli territory, a measure that came into effect in January 2025. The December 2025 amendments further intensified these restrictions, prompting the UN Secretary-General to reiterate that UNRWA is an integral part of the United Nations system and that its property and personnel are protected under international legal frameworks. He also referenced an International Court of Justice advisory opinion from October 2025, which affirmed Israel's obligation to respect the privileges and immunities accorded to the UN, including UNRWA, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.