Ammon News - Adnan Abu Hasna, the spokesperson for UNRWA, stated that the agency works with a UN mandate renewed every 3 years and will not be influenced by Israel, continuing its work independently.

As per UNRWA's official website, Abu Hasna stated that Israel suspended the agency's operations in East Jerusalem because it thinks closing the agency will resolve the Palestinian refugee issue and hinder political and two-state solutions. He emphasized that UNRWA is crucial for Palestinian refugees, and Israel's decision will severely impact those in the West Bank and Gaza.

Abu Hasna clarified that Israel's history with the agency has been marked by contradictions and covert hostility, but the situation has now escalated to a more alarming and perilous level, leading to the issue being brought to legislation for the first time in the agency's history. In recent months, the Israeli government has attempted to substitute UNRWA with smaller organizations, despite the agency having over 30,000 employees in the Middle East, with 13,000 solely in Gaza.

He highlighted that UNRWA is crucial for security and stability in the region, functioning in 5 countries. The system would suffer without it as there is no substitute, emphasizing that the agency's absence would greatly affect regional security and stability intertwined with humanitarian efforts.

It is important to mention that the Israeli Knesset passed a law yesterday evening, Monday, that prohibits the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from working in Israel.