UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, is an international organization that provides education, health, and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Despite not raising any concerns about UNRWA employees since 2011, Israel accused over 450 of its personnel of being involved in terrorist groups in Gaza in March 2024. However, Israel did not provide any evidence to support this claim.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman accused over 2,135 UNRWA employees of being members of terrorist organizations and called on donors not to give money to UNRWA in Gaza. This led to 16 countries suspending or withholding funding for UNRWA. The UN Secretary-General called for active support for UNRWA from all countries as it is a lifeline for Palestinian refugees. Despite canceling contracts with accused employees, UNRWA is facing challenges related to neutrality.
UNRWA is currently developing an action plan to address the recommendations of a recent audit. The organization has enough funding to operate until June but major donors like the US have suspended funding. The review acknowledged UNRWA’s efforts to maintain neutrality but highlighted ongoing challenges. The head of UNRWA stated that the organization is committed to addressing the recommendations and strengthening its response for the benefit of Palestinian refugees.