{"id":20323,"date":"2025-07-15T18:08:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T18:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.watanserb.com\/en\/?p=20323"},"modified":"2025-07-15T18:08:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T18:08:08","slug":"israel-cuts-off-electricity-and-water-to-unrwa-offices-amid-escalating-crackdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.watanserb.com\/en\/2025\/07\/15\/israel-cuts-off-electricity-and-water-to-unrwa-offices-amid-escalating-crackdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel Cuts Off Electricity and Water to UNRWA Offices Amid Escalating Crackdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Watan<\/strong><\/em>-In a new escalation against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced Tuesday that Israel has cut electricity and water services to the agency’s offices located within its territory.<\/p>\n

Under the slogan “Turn off the lights on UNRWA”, Cohen posted on X (formerly Twitter):\u201cThe law to cut electricity and water to UNRWA offices has been enacted, which will effectively end the agency\u2019s activities in Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cohen repeated Israel\u2019s claim that UNRWA served as an \u201coperational arm of Hamas\u201d, saying:\u201cAn organization that acts as an incubator for incitement and murder has no right to exist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Context and Timeline of Crackdown on UNRWA:<\/h3>\n
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    January 2025: Israel officially enforced its ban on UNRWA.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    The agency was forced to evacuate its main office in East Jerusalem\u2019s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Israel also shut down six UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    On October 28, 2024, the Knesset passed two laws with overwhelming support:<\/p>\n

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      Prohibiting all UNRWA operations in Israel<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Stripping the agency of privileges and banning any official interaction with it<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Israel alleges that some UNRWA staff participated in Hamas\u2019s October 7, 2023 attack\u2014a claim UNRWA and the UN firmly deny, emphasizing the agency\u2019s neutrality and lifesaving role in occupied Palestine.<\/p>\n

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      \u05dc\u05d0\u05e8\u05d2\u05d5\u05df \u05e9\u05de\u05e9\u05de\u05e9 \u05db\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d2\u05d9\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc \u05dc\u05d4\u05e1\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d5\u05e8\u05e6\u05d7 \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05d6\u05db\u05d5\u05ea\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/qYCKXEtG6J<\/a><\/p>\n

      \u2014 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d9 \u05db\u05d4\u05df | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) July 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n