The Norwegian government has announced a contribution of 275 million Norwegian kroner (24 million USD) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Thursday, the same day that the Israeli ban on the agency’s operations in Israel took effect. "Gaza is in ruins, and UNRWA’s assistance is more critical than ever," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in a statement. "It is extremely devastating for Palestine that the Israeli laws now in force could effectively prevent UNRWA from working."

Israel has prohibited UNRWA from operating "within Israeli territory," a ban that came into effect Thursday, following the Israeli Supreme Court's rejection of an appeal against the laws passed in late October. Israeli authorities accuse UNRWA of playing a role in the unprecedented attack launched by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023.

These accusations have led significant donors to suspend their funding of the agency. A UN inquiry in August found that only nine of its staff might have been involved. Despite the controversy, Norway has increased its support to UNRWA. The relationship between Israel and the Scandinavian country has severely deteriorated, particularly after Norway, along with Spain and Ireland, officially recognised the State of Palestine in May.

Founded in 1949, UNRWA is considered the "backbone" of humanitarian operations for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and surrounding countries, where it operates schools and health centres. The 275 million Norwegian kroner will support its work benefiting the "six million Palestinian refugees in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan," according to Oslo.

This financial support comes at a time when international pressure grows to ensure continued humanitarian aid for Palestine, especially as Israeli policies further restrict Palestinian access to critical services, leaving many without basic needs.