Israel has declined to renew the work permits of local chief officers for three United Nations agencies in Gaza, a move that UN humanitarian officials warn is a direct response to their efforts protecting Palestinian civilians amid the ongoing conflict
According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the affected leaders include those heading:
- OCHA (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs),
- OHCHR (the UN Human Rights Office), and,
- UNRWA (the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees in Gaza)
At a Security Council briefing on Wednesday, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher emphasized that the UN’s mandate extends beyond mere aid delivery.
Fletcher highlighted that it includes documenting what is happening on the ground and promoting respect for international humanitarian law.
He cautioned that every report citing civilian harm risks provoking retaliation through limited access or revoked permissions
Fletcher stated bluntly that Israel has explicitly responded to protection-of-civilians advocacy by withholding or shortening visa renewals for UN staff
Gaza Humanitarian Conditions Described as “Beyond Vocabulary”
At the same Security Council session, Fletcher painted a dire picture of life in Gaza.
He described starvation, collapsing services, and civilians being shot while seeking basic food and water.
Fletcher argued that as the occupying power, Israel is neglecting its responsibilities under the Geneva Conventions to ensure civilian needs are met
In defense, Reut Shapir Ben‑Naftaly, a political envoy at Israel’s UN mission, criticized UN agencies for abandoning neutrality, alleging they consistently ignore Hamas’s role in triggering the conflict, a claim she says frames Israel unfairly
She reminded council members that the war began after Hamas’s October 7 attack, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in approximately 250 kidnappings.
UNRWA Under Heightened Scrutiny
Israel has intensified its critique of UNRWA, long before the October 2023 attacks, accusing it of harboring ties to Hamas.
The Israeli government maintains that some UNRWA employees took part in the October 7 violence.
Israel has formally banned UNRWA operations within its borders and barred UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini from Gaza
Alongside those affected by visa non‑renewals, the UN identified the two other blocked officials.
They were Jonathan Whittall (OCHA’s local head) and Ajith Sunghay (OHCHR’s leader), both of whom have been instrumental in addressing humanitarian and rights issues in Gaza
Access Restrictions Hinder Emergency Response
Further restricting efforts on the ground, Fletcher revealed that Israel is withholding security clearances for UN personnel and denying entry to humanitarian partners.
Shockingly, emergency medical teams accounted for 56% of access denials into Gaza in 2025, according to UN records
Hundreds of aid workers have been killed over the course of the war, and those who remain face daily hardships, including hunger, danger, and grief, just like the civilians they strive to assist
Access Blocked to Rights Bodies and Journalists
UN human rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani confirmed that OHCHR’s head for the occupied Palestinian territories attempted to enter Gaza in February 2025 but was denied entry, a decision Shamdasani described as “unfortunately not unusual.”
She noted that such access denials extend to aid workers, UN personnel, and journalists
Allegations of Anti‑Semitism Surface
Meanwhile, Israel has accused the UN-backed commission investigating alleged abuses in Gaza, and UN Human Rights Council independent investigator Francesca Albanese, of antisemitism.
Among her controversial stances, Albanese has characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and drew parallels with Nazi Germany, prompting backlash that included U.S. sanctions
A Breaking Point in UN–Israel Relations
This escalating dispute over visas, access, and accusations of bias reflects a broader confrontation between the UN and Israel.
It highlights an increasingly fraught relationship, with the UN accusing Israel of undermining its mandate and Israel accusing the UN of pursuing a one‑sided narrative.
As humanitarian conditions deteriorate in Gaza and diplomatic fault lines deepen, the world is witnessing a fraught standoff not just over aid delivery, but over whose voice and accountability matters when civilians pay the ultimate price.
