United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel could be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if it does not reverse laws targeting the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).
The warning comes amid growing tensions over Israel’s treatment of UNRWA, which provides humanitarian aid, education, and health services to millions of Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Guterres Sends Strong Letter to Netanyahu
In a letter dated January 8, 2026, Guterres expressed serious concern about Israeli legislation that undermines UNRWA’s operations. He wrote that the United Nations cannot remain indifferent to Israel’s “actions taken in direct contravention of the obligations of Israel under international law,” calling for the immediate reversal of these measures and the return of seized UN property.
“These actions must be reversed without delay,” Guterres stated, emphasizing that UNRWA is “an integral part of the United Nations” and that Israel is obligated to respect the privileges and immunities of UN personnel under the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN.
The convention specifies that the premises of the United Nations shall be inviolable, a principle Israel’s recent actions appear to challenge.
Israeli Laws Against UNRWA
In October 2024, Israel passed a law banning UNRWA operations within its borders and in occupied East Jerusalem, prohibiting Israeli officials from interacting with the agency. In December 2025, Israel amended the law to further block electricity and water access to UNRWA facilities.
Authorities also seized UNRWA offices in East Jerusalem last month. While the UN considers East Jerusalem occupied territory, Israel asserts that the entire city is part of its sovereign territory.
Israel Rejects UN Concerns
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, dismissed Guterres’ letter as a threat.
“We are not fazed by the Secretary-General’s threats. Instead of addressing the undeniable involvement of UNRWA personnel in terrorism, the Secretary-General chooses to threaten Israel. This is not defending international law, this is defending an organization marred by terrorism,” Danon said in a post on X.
Israel has long sought to dissolve UNRWA, which was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to aid Palestinian refugees after the founding of Israel.
Allegations of UNRWA Staff Involvement
Israel has accused UNRWA employees of involvement in terrorism, citing a dozen agency staff allegedly linked to the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1,139 people were killed and roughly 240 were taken captive.
In retaliation, Israel launched a devastating military campaign in Gaza, killing over 71,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
The UN has confirmed that nine UNRWA staff possibly linked to the attacks have been fired, and investigations are ongoing. Israel has yet to provide evidence to substantiate broader claims against the agency.
UNRWA’s Role in Humanitarian Aid
Despite Israel’s allegations, the UN has emphasized UNRWA’s central role in providing aid to Palestinians. The agency runs schools, hospitals, and shelters for over one million displaced Palestinians in Gaza. According to UN reports, Israel’s military actions have killed 382 UNRWA employees in Gaza—the highest number of UN casualties in the organization’s history.
Top UN officials and the Security Council have described UNRWA as the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, where Israel’s ongoing military operations have created a severe humanitarian crisis.
ICJ Advisory Opinion
The ICJ, also known as the World Court, has weighed in on Israel’s obligations. In October 2025, the court reaffirmed that Israel must respect the privileges and immunities of UN personnel and ensure basic humanitarian needs are met in Gaza.
Advisory opinions from the ICJ carry legal and political weight but are not legally binding and the court has no enforcement mechanism. Nonetheless, a referral by the UN Secretary-General could increase international pressure on Israel.
Global Reactions and Implications
The conflict over UNRWA raises significant international concerns, particularly regarding international law, humanitarian protections, and the treatment of UN agencies.
- UN Secretary-General Guterres has called for Israel to return seized assets and respect UN operations.
- Israel maintains that UNRWA staff have been involved in terrorism and rejects UN pressure.
- The ICJ advisory opinion highlights Israel’s obligations under international law but lacks enforcement authority.
As tensions rise, the situation remains a critical point of debate for the UN, international courts, and global human rights organizations.
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