It was founded in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees across the Mideast that fled or were forced from their homes during the war over Israel’s creation.

It’s a miracle she survived,' Mandy Damari says after call with British PM Keir Starmer; UN agency, which Israel just banned, calls for 'very serious claim' to be investigated The post Emily Damari’s mom: My daughter was held in UNRWA facilities,

Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for 15 months says she was detained for some time at United Nations facilities. During a phone call with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Emily Damari - who was released earlier this month - said she was held at sites belonging to the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa).

A hostage recently released from Hamas captivity revealed that she was held in United Nations facilities and denied medical treatment despite severe injuries.

Support from Americans has surged for the U.S. nonprofit that raises money for UNRWA, the U.N. agency that serves Palestinian refugees.

U.N. officials vowed Thursday that the agency would continue to deliver services in the Palestinian territories for as long as possible.

Israel has alleged that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is full of Hamas operatives and has reaffirmed its commitment to end ties with the agency this week.

An Israeli law adopted in October bans operations by UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) on Israeli land - including annexed East Jerusalem - and contact with Israeli authorities from Jan.

UNRWA, the United Nations’ Palestinian relief agency, said it remains operational in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem despite an Israeli ban. The law passed in October forbids UNRWA from operating on Israeli land and from contact with Israeli authorities.

Bill Deere, director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA), discussed with ABC News on Wednesday relief efforts in Gaza and Israel, highlighting that Israel's order for the agency to leave Gaza could severely impact humanitarian efforts.

Keith Segel, an American-Israeli in Gaza and the first of American citizens taken on Oct. 7, will be released on Saturday as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasfire deal.

A British - Israeli woman, who was held hostage for 15 months by Hamas in Gaza, has said she was detained in a United Nations facility and denied medical treatment during her captivity.