UNRWA: Holding Fast to Neutrality Amidst Political Scrutiny and Financial Challenges

The UNRWA is a vital organization that provides education, health, and aid to millions of Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. To ensure transparency and accountability, the organization shares its staff lists annually with the Palestinian Authority, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. However, in March 2024, Israel made a claim that a significant number of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organizations. Despite this accusation, Israel did not provide any evidence to support it.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman accused over 2135 UNRWA employees of being members of terrorist organizations and called on donors not to give money to UNRWA in Gaza. The UN Secretary-General condemned Israel’s actions and urged all countries to support UNRWA as it is a lifeline for Palestinian refugees. As a result of Israel’s accusations, 16 countries suspended or withheld funding for UNRWA. Although the organization canceled contracts with accused employees, it still faces challenges related to neutrality.

To address these challenges and improve its operations, UNRWA is developing an action plan based on the recommendations of a recent audit. The organization has enough funding to operate until June; however, major donors like the US have suspended funding. Despite these difficulties, UNRWA remains committed to maintaining neutrality and providing essential services to Palestinian refugees. The head of UNRWA stated that the organization is working diligently to address the recommendations and strengthen its response for the benefit of those it serves.