Israel’s relationship with the United Nations has historically been strained, but over the past year, tensions have reached new levels. On October 28, the Israeli parliament (the Knesset) passed a law to prohibit operations of the UN’s relief and works agency (Unrwa) – the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees – within the territory it controls.

In an unprecedented move, the Israeli government passed a sweeping ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on October 28. The decision will have a profound impact on humanitarian efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT),

While the law has not been immediately implemented, the announcement of its passage drew strong condemnation from UNRWA, the United States, and others.

If the UN wants to be taken seriously as a source of aid to Palestinians, it should commit to overdue improvements in accountability and transparency in its aid organizations.