Israel expels UNRWA staff member, cites national security concerns

Israel has reportedly expelled a staff member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), who was a citizen of an EU member state.

The incident took place on Friday when the individual, who had been residing in Israel for 17 years and was married to an Israeli citizen, was denied entry at Ben Gurion Airport.

According to Haaretz, the Israeli Interior Ministry refused the UNRWA staff member entry, citing a ban on the agency’s activities in East Jerusalem and Israel. The individual, along with their Israeli spouse and three children, was reportedly interrogated by Israeli authorities.

The UNRWA employee, who was reportedly in the process of relocating to Europe, claimed that during the interrogation, the Israeli official made derogatory remarks regarding Arabic text on a business card and expressed disdain. The individual was subsequently ordered to leave.

The expulsion was justified by Israeli authorities on the grounds of national security and public order concerns. An appeal to overturn the decision was made to the Israeli Interior Ministry, but it was rejected by the courts.

UNRWA, which was established in 1950, has been providing humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees, including food, education, healthcare, and housing. The agency currently supports 5.9 million refugees. Recently, Israel has criticized UNRWA, particularly following the escalation of conflict in Gaza in October 2023, accusing the agency of involvement in the hostilities. Israel’s Knesset passed bills aimed at restricting UNRWA’s activities in Israel, which took effect on February 1.