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Law for the Cessation of UNRWA's Activity, 5785-2024

חוק להפסקת פעילות אונר"א, תשפ"ה-2024

Published: 2024-10-30Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-01-04 · Last amended 2025-12-31✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Expiry of the Exchange of Letters between Israel and UNRWA§

1.
(a)The invitation of UNRWA based on the exchange of letters between Israel and UNRWA of the 6th of Sivan 5727 (14 June 1967) shall expire on the 5th of Tishrei 5785 (7 October 2024).
(b)The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall notify the United Nations of the expiry under subsection (a) within seven days of the date of the receipt of this Law by the Knesset.

Prohibition of Contact with UNRWA§

2.

An authority of the State authorities, including other bodies and persons performing public functions by law, shall not maintain any contact with UNRWA or with anyone acting on its behalf.

Cancellation of Approvals for UNRWA§

2a.

Without derogating from the provisions of any law, an authority of the State authorities, including other bodies and persons performing public functions by law, shall cancel any approval, licence, permit or benefit (in this Section – approval) granted, directly or indirectly, to UNRWA, by means of a person or corporation, unless it has been brought to its knowledge that that person or corporation did not receive, directly or indirectly, that approval on behalf of UNRWA.

Non-Supply of Electricity, Water and Gas§

2b.
(a)In this Law –

"service provider" – any one of the following:

(1)the Israel Electric Corporation Ltd., the Jerusalem District Electric Company Ltd. or a holder of a supply licence under the Electricity Sector Law, 5756-1996, as the case may be;
(2)a holder of a licence under section 23 of the Water Law, 5719-1959, including a company as defined in the Water and Sewerage Corporations Law, 5761-2001, that supplies water to consumers;
(3)a gas supplier within the meaning of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Law, 5781-2020;

"name of the registered consumer at the property" – the name recorded in the service provider's registers as the recipient of electricity, water or gas services at the property, including a person recorded in those registers as the payer for the service or as the owner of the property.

(b)A service provider shall not supply electricity, water or gas to a particular property (in this Section – service), as the case may be, if the name of the registered consumer at that property is UNRWA, and for this purpose the following provisions shall apply:
(1)if a request has been submitted to change the name of the registered consumer at the property so that the name of the registered consumer at the property will be UNRWA, or a request for a new connection for the supply of service on behalf of a consumer whose registered name at the property is UNRWA – the requested action shall not be carried out, and the service provider shall disconnect the property from the service upon the expiry of 15 days from the date on which notice was sent to the registered consumer at the property stating that it intends to disconnect the property from the service as aforesaid, unless during that period the consumer whose name is registered at the property sends the service provider a declaration stating that he does not represent UNRWA or does not act on its behalf at the property;
(2)if a service provider becomes aware that the name of the registered consumer at a particular property is UNRWA, it shall disconnect the property from the service upon the expiry of 15 days from the date on which notice was sent to the registered consumer at the property in accordance with the provisions of subsections (d) and (e) stating that it intends to disconnect the property from the service as aforesaid, unless during that period a request to change the name of the registered consumer at the property is submitted in accordance with the provisions of any law, to which shall be attached, in addition to the documents required under any law, a declaration by the incoming consumer stating that he does not represent UNRWA or does not act on its behalf at the property.
(c)Where a request as referred to in subsection (b)(2) has been submitted, the service provider shall examine the request and the following provisions shall apply:
(1)if the name of the registered consumer at the property has been changed to a consumer other than UNRWA – the property shall not be disconnected from the service;
(2)if the name of the registered consumer at the property has not been changed – the service provider shall send notice to the person who submitted the request stating that since the name of the registered consumer at the property has not been changed, it intends to disconnect the property from the service within 15 days of the date of sending the notice; upon the expiry of those 15 days, the property shall be disconnected from the service.
(d)In a notice under subsection (b)(2), the service provider shall state that it intends to disconnect the property from the service within 15 days of the date of sending the notice, on the ground that the name of the registered consumer at the property is UNRWA, and that the consumer is entitled to submit a request to change the name of the registered consumer at the property, and that if the service provider approves the request and the name of the registered consumer at the property is replaced with a consumer other than UNRWA, the property shall not be disconnected from the service under the provisions of this Section.
(e)A service provider shall send notices under subsection (b) to the consumer whose name is registered at the property both in the manner in which it delivers notices to registered consumers under any law, licence or agreement, as the case may be, and by registered post or by courier to the address of the property; a notice sent as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been received by the consumer 15 days after it was sent.

Non-Supply of Other Services to UNRWA§

2c.
(a)A telecommunications service provider or another body listed in the First Schedule shall not supply to UNRWA a telecommunications service or any other service listed in the First Schedule as set out therein, as the case may be, and the provisions of section 2b shall apply, with the necessary modifications; for the purpose of this Section, "telecommunications service provider" – an authorised provider as defined in the Communications Law (Telecommunications and Broadcasts), 5742-1982, that supplies a telecommunications service as defined in that Law.
(b)A financial body shall not supply to UNRWA a banking service to a customer, a financial service or a payment service, as the case may be; for the purpose of this Section, "financial body" – a banking corporation as defined in the Banking Law (Customer Service), 5741-1981, a provider of financial services as defined in the Financial Services Supervision Law (Regulated Financial Services), 5776-2016, a payment service provider as defined in the Payment Services Law, 5779-2019, or a postal bank as defined in the Payment Services and Payment Initiation Regulation Law, 5783-2023.
(c)A Minister, with the approval of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Knesset, may add to the First Schedule a service that falls within the spheres of activity of the ministry under his responsibility.

Non-Supply of Service to a Person Acting in the Name or on Behalf of UNRWA§

2d.
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, where a service provider or a telecommunications service provider or a financial body, or another body listed in the First Schedule, becomes aware that a person or corporation requests to receive a service or is receiving a service for the purpose of UNRWA's activity in the territory of the State of Israel, or in its name or on its behalf, including on a temporary or one-time basis, whether for consideration or without consideration (hereinafter – consumer), it shall cease supplying the requested service or shall not supply the service, as the case may be; the provisions of section 2b shall apply, with the necessary modifications, except in respect of a financial body.
(b)For the purpose of ascertaining whether the matter referred to in subsection (a) applies to a consumer, a service provider, a telecommunications service provider or another body listed in the First Schedule, or a financial body, may apply to the local authority in which the property in respect of which the service is provided is located or to the Israel Police and to other security bodies for assistance in making the ascertainment; the local authority may avail itself of the assistance of the Police and security bodies in making the ascertainment as aforesaid; the Israel Police and the security bodies shall assist in making the ascertainment in accordance with the powers and functions of each body under any law.

Power to Take Possession of Real Property§

2e.
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, the State, in respect of Israel Lands, and a local authority, in respect of real property of a local authority, may take possession of such real property that was held by UNRWA, or is held by its representative or anyone acting on its behalf, situated in the compounds marked in the Second Schedule; for the purpose of taking possession as aforesaid, the powers vested in a person appointed as supervisor under the provisions of section 5d of the Public Lands Law (Eviction of Occupants) shall be vested in him for the purpose of executing an Order as referred to in section 5(c) of that Law, with the necessary modifications; in this Section –

"Public Lands Law (Eviction of Occupants)" – the Public Lands Law (Eviction of Occupants), 5741-1981;

"Israel Lands" – as defined in Basic Law: Israel Lands;

"real property of a local authority" – as defined in the Public Lands Law (Eviction of Occupants).

(b)At the request of the Israel Lands Authority or a local authority, the Israel Defence Forces and the Israel Police shall allocate forces and resources for the purpose of taking possession under this Section and operating the compounds marked in the Second Schedule thereafter, at any time when so requested, in coordination with the person appointed as supervisor under subsection (a), and with the assistance of a government ministry or other security body that has been so requested; a body listed in this subsection shall act in accordance with its powers and functions under any law.
(c)The taking of possession under subsection (a) shall be carried out within 30 days of the date of commencement of the Law for the Cessation of UNRWA's Activity (Amendment), 5786-2025; however, nothing in the foregoing shall derogate from the power set out in that subsection.
(d)The Minister of Justice, with the approval of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Knesset, may amend the Second Schedule.

Refuse Collection§

2f.

The Jerusalem Municipality shall operate a refuse collection system in the neighbourhoods within its area in which UNRWA operated.

Savings Provisions§

3.

Nothing in the provisions of this Law shall render superfluous any criminal proceedings against UNRWA employees, including proceedings as aforesaid in respect of the events of 7 October 2023 or the Swords of Iron War, or any other criminal proceedings under the provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Law, 5776-2016, or the exercise of powers against them within the framework of such proceedings.

Commencement§

4.

This Law shall commence three months from the date of its publication; however, the commencement of section 1 shall be on the 5th of Tishrei 5785 (7 October 2024) or on the date of publication of this Law, whichever is the later.

Report to the Knesset§

5.

The Head of the National Security Staff or his representative shall report to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Knesset, once every six months, and during the first two years from the date of commencement of this Law – once every two months, on the implementation of the provisions of this Law.

Exception to Application§

6.

The provisions of the Immunities and Privileges of the United Nations Ordinance, 1947, shall not apply to UNRWA, to its officials, to persons employed on its behalf or to its property.

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First Schedule (section 2c)

Second Schedule (section 2e)

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