The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is facing an "existential threat" following a ban by Israel and the loss of US funding, according to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. The ban, implemented last week, prohibits UNRWA from operating within Israeli territory, forcing international staff to leave East Jerusalem due to expiring visas. While operations in Gaza and the West Bank remain unaffected for now, the long-term impact on UNRWA's ability to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees is significant.
The US, under the Trump administration, has also announced the permanent cessation of funding for UNRWA, citing accusations of staff involvement in the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. This decision follows the Biden administration's suspension of funding in January 2024. While other donor countries had initially suspended funding, all but the US have since resumed their contributions.
Lazzarini has called the US funding cut a "challenge" and is appealing to Gulf Arab countries and other donors to increase their support. He maintains that UNRWA is the target of a "massive disinformation campaign" aimed at dismantling the agency. Critics argue that UNRWA perpetuates the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by granting refugee status to descendants of Palestinian refugees, thereby maintaining their right of return.
Lazzarini emphasizes that UNRWA's role is crucial, providing essential services like healthcare and education to 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, as well as 3 million more in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. He argues that UNRWA's mandate can only be ended through a political process leading to a Palestinian state, allowing for the transfer of services to a Palestinian institution. The alternative, he warns, would be the "implosion" of UNRWA, resulting in further hardship for one of the region's most vulnerable populations.