Beirut: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) faces a dire future as Israeli restrictions and U.S. funding cuts threaten its ability to operate, said its commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, on Thursday.
Despite Israel’s recent ban on UNRWA’s activities, the agency continues to function in Gaza and the West Bank, though it faces mounting obstacles. “Our objective is to stay and deliver until we are prevented from doing so,” Lazzarini stated during a visit to Beirut. However, he acknowledged that the agency is under “existential threat.”
The situation worsened after former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed permanently resettling Gaza’s two million Palestinians in neighboring Arab countries and suggested long-term U.S. control over the region. Lazzarini rejected the idea, calling it “totally unrealistic” and a form of “ethnic cleansing.”
UNRWA lost U.S. funding in January 2024 after Israel alleged that some of its Gaza-based staff were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. While several donor countries initially suspended support, most except the U.S. have since resumed funding. Lazzarini described the campaign against UNRWA as “massive disinformation” aimed at dismantling the agency.
Providing vital aid to millions across the region, UNRWA has been a lifeline for Palestinians, especially since the Gaza war began in 2023. Lazzarini warned that if the agency collapses, it would inflict immense suffering on one of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
