United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed that there is no alternative to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), adding that 118 countries supporting UNRWA believe it is indispensable amid intensified efforts by Israel to dismantle it. UNRWA provides education, health services, and assistance to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Since the outbreak of war nine months ago between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, UN officials have reiterated that UNRWA is the backbone of humanitarian operations.
Guterres stated at a donor conference for UNRWA in New York on Friday: "My call to everyone is to protect UNRWA, its staff, and its mandate, including through funding... Let me be clear... there is no substitute for UNRWA." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long called for UNRWA's dismantling, accusing it of inciting against Israel, and the Israeli Knesset is currently considering designating UNRWA as a terrorist organization.
Several countries halted their funding for UNRWA following accusations from Israel that some agency employees were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which led to the Gaza war. Later, most donors resumed funding while the UN conducted an internal investigation. UNRWA has been severely affected by the conflict in Gaza, where 195 of its staff members have been killed.
Guterres noted, "UNRWA is targeted in other ways as well... staff members have faced increasing violent protests and malicious misinformation and media blackout campaigns." He added, "Israeli security forces have arrested some, with reports emerging of mistreatment and even torture." He stated that UNRWA staff in the West Bank face severe Israeli restrictions on their movements.
For its part, the Israeli army claims that it operates according to Israeli and international law, stating that detainees receive food, water, medication, and proper clothing. Israel accuses UNRWA of colluding with Hamas, asserting that the armed group is embedded within the infrastructure of the UN agency. UNRWA was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949.
Jordan's ambassador to the UN, Mahmoud Hamoud, mentioned on Friday before the donor conference that 118 countries signed a joint statement supporting UNRWA and its work. The statement emphasized that "UNRWA is the backbone of the entire humanitarian response in Gaza, acknowledging that no organization can replace UNRWA or serve as an alternative to its capabilities."
