The U.S. State Department warned President-elect Donald Trump's administration of an imminent humanitarian disaster in Gaza, following the enactment of the Israeli law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

UNRWA is considered the main agency providing humanitarian aid in Gaza. U.S. officials reported that there is no serious alternative plan to provide supplies and humanitarian services to Palestinians in case UNRWA ceases its operations.

International Warnings and Catastrophic Humanitarian Conditions

The United Nations and international relief organizations have issued warnings for more than a year of warfare in Gaza, indicating that the territory is on the brink of becoming uninhabitable, after the destruction of tens of thousands of homes and the displacement of nearly two million Palestinians who rely on humanitarian aid for their daily lives, especially in food, water, and medical services.

Timing of the Crisis

The Israeli law aimed at terminating UNRWA's activities will come into effect just a few days after Donald Trump's inauguration as President of the United States. American sources stated that Trump's team received a detailed briefing from State Department officials regarding UNRWA and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, aimed at alerting the new administration to the severity of the situation.

An American official told Axios:

"We wanted them to realize the magnitude of the expected disaster just 10 days after they took office. It is a real crisis waiting to happen."

Lack of Alternative Plans

U.S. and Israeli officials pointed out that the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, refused in recent months to engage in discussions with the Israeli side regarding alternative agencies that could take on the roles of UNRWA.

Reports also confirmed that the Israeli government has not yet made any clear decisions on how to deal with the situation in Gaza after the implementation of the laws. An Israeli official stated:

"Both sides are waiting for a magic solution and believe that things will resolve themselves, which is completely unlikely."

Details of the Israeli Laws

Last October, the Israeli parliament passed two laws that restrict the activities of UNRWA:

1. The first law prevents the agency from operating within the territories that Israel considers part of its own, particularly affecting East Jerusalem.

2. The second law prohibits Israeli officials from communicating with UNRWA and strips its employees of diplomatic privileges and immunity.

Potential Consequences

The cessation of UNRWA's work in Gaza could exacerbate the humanitarian situation, especially with the local population's complete reliance on the agency's assistance. In the absence of alternative plans, the region may face increasing political tensions, necessitating urgent international intervention to prevent a complete collapse of the humanitarian situation.