UNRWA is at the centre of an escalating legal and political storm. From serious allegations of infiltration by terrorists and complicity in terrorism to its perpetuation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through its unique definition of refugees, the agency is facing more scrutiny than ever.

In October 2024, the Israeli parliament passed legislation by overwhelming majorities which terminated the agreement between Israel and UNRWA, and prohibits any activity by UNRWA in Israel and any contact between the Israeli government and UNRWA.

This legislation prompted the UN General Assembly to request yet another advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Israel’s obligations towards UNRWA and other international organisations.

Meanwhile, legal claims against UNRWA, its staff and supporting organisations are mounting in various national jurisdictions, claiming that they are liable for the atrocities of 7 October 2023 and the imprisonment of hostages, and challenging or seeking to avoid UN immunities.

What are the legal implications of these developments? How might they reshape the future of UNRWA, the UN and the Middle East? This webinar examines the latest legal actions and unpack the key legal issues.

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More about the speakers

Olivia Flasch is an expert in public international law, with a particular focus on armed conflicts and the use of force. She studied public international law and EU law in The Hague and obtained a Master’s Degree from Oxford University, focusing on international criminal law and armed conflicts. She worked as a solicitor in London before becoming an independent legal consultant.

Olivia has worked with governments, UN agencies and international organisations on a wide range of topics, including the verification of digital evidence in international criminal proceedings, the development of AI in the military domain, and the protection of the environment in armed conflicts.

She is the author of numerous articles relating to Israel and international law in the Jerusalem Post, EJIL Talk!, the Times of Israel, the Lawfare Institute, the Lieber Institute’s Articles of War and other publications.

Natasha Hausdorff is a barrister at 6 Pump Court Chambers and a frequent speaker on International Law. She has a law degree from Oxford University, qualified as a solicitor at Skadden, and subsequently gained an LLM from Tel Aviv University, focussing on public international law and the law of armed conflict.

She clerked for Miriam Naor, President of Israel’s Supreme Court, and was a Fellow at Columbia Law School’s National Security Program. Natasha is legal director of UKLFI Charitable Trust.