Israel’s assertion that UNRWA has ties to terrorism stems from allegations that 19 employees may have participated in the Oct. 7 attack. But in response, an investigation by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services determined that the evidence was insufficient or non-existent in 10 cases.Reuters
Mahmoud Mushtaha is a Palestinian journalist who is originally from Gaza and is now based in London. He recently published his first book in Spanish, Sobrevivir al genocidio en Gaza.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is once again under attack.
Last week, Israel’s Knesset overwhelmingly passed legislation that prevents UNRWA from “operating any institution, providing any service, or conducting any activity, whether directly or indirectly,” according to the Jerusalem Post. The law also prevents any Israeli government official or agency from engaging with UNRWA, effectively severing potential collaboration or communication. And on Monday, the Israeli government officially informed the UN that it was withdrawing from a 1967 agreement to recognize the agency.
While Israel’s decisions are being presented as crucial measures to combat terrorism, they conceal a more profound aim: the erasure of historical injustices endured by Palestinians, and the delegitimization of their narrative.
Today, UNRWA supports more than 5 million Palestinian refugees across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine, providing essential services such as education, health care and food assistance. With many Palestinians living in overcrowded refugee camps, often under dire conditions, the agency plays a vital role in addressing their needs. It offers education to children who may not have access to any other form of schooling, instilling a sense of identity and history that is crucial for the younger generation. Its health care facilities are lifelines in a region facing immense challenges, especially amid Israel’s campaign in Gaza – which some legal scholars have declared a genocide, with a case being heard at the International Court of Justice. Seventy per cent of Gazans are now reliant on some form of UNRWA emergency aid. UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna said that Israel’s ban on the agency could result in a total collapse of humanitarian efforts in Gaza, calling it an “unprecedented” escalation.
But for many Palestinians, UNRWA is more than just a humanitarian organization; it symbolizes their collective identity and lasting connection to their occupied homeland under the name of “a Palestinian refugee.” In 1949, UNRWA was created to assist the more than 750,000 Palestinians displaced from their land during the Nakba. This began a long struggle for statehood and recognition, shaping the Palestinian experience and identity for generations to come.
Israel’s assertion that UNRWA has ties to terrorism stems from allegations that 19 employees may have participated in the Oct. 7 attack. But in response, an investigation by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services determined that the evidence was insufficient or non-existent in 10 cases. In the other nine cases, in which “the evidence – if authenticated and corroborated – could indicate that the UNRWA staff members may have been involved,” those staff had their contracts terminated in “the interest of the Agency” – a demonstration of its commitment to strict neutrality.
UNRWA has long been perceived as a threat by Israel, but this doesn’t stem from any direct and substantiated links to violence. Instead, the agency represents a persistent reminder of the Palestinian narrative and the historical injustices they have faced. By providing essential services and fostering a sense of identity among Palestinians, UNRWA challenges the dominant narrative that seeks to marginalize their experiences and aspirations. It is deeply linked to the Palestinian refugee experience, and is a reminder of the tragedies and the forced displacements that they have endured for 76 years. Its very existence, then, undermines Israel’s efforts to reshape the story of the conflict – making it a target for those who wish to silence the Palestinian voice. And while UNRWA’s commissioner-general has said that dismantling the agency “will not strip Palestinians’ refugee status,” Israel’s targeting of UNRWA still appears to be a systematic move to undermine the refugee issue, and a step toward abrogating Palestinians’ right to return.
The implications of banning UNRWA are profound. The immediate effect will likely be an increase in humanitarian needs as families lose access to vital services; the International Organization for Migration and UNICEF have both said they would not be able to fill the gap. Losing UNRWA’s education services could also hinder the development of an entire generation of Palestinian youth, creating a cycle of disenfranchisement and hopelessness.
Moreover, this decision signals a troubling trend in international relations, where humanitarian needs are increasingly subordinated to political agendas. As the world grapples with various crises, the risk of Palestinian rights being marginalized in global discussions grows. The potential for increased suffering among Palestinian communities cannot be overlooked, nor can the impact on the broader quest for peace in the region.
Without UNRWA’s support, millions of Palestinians could face worsening conditions, heightening the already precarious humanitarian crisis. But the consequences extend beyond immediate aid – they threaten to dismantle the very fabric of Palestinian society that UNRWA has helped sustain for decades.