Its spokesperson: The American stance will not deter UNRWA from its work.

The media advisor for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Adnan Abu Hasna, stated that the recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he said that the international organization would not be able to play any role in the Gaza Strip, are not new and come within the framework of U.S. positions regarding the UN agency.

Abu Hasna explained in a special interview that the U.S. rejection of UNRWA's work was established after President Donald Trump's victory in his first term, which began in January 2018, when he cut U.S. funding for the international agency. This funding was later restored by President Joe Biden before Trump decided to halt it again upon entering the White House at the beginning of this year.

The U.S. contribution is estimated to be between 25% and 30% of UNRWA's total budget, and the total U.S. contribution to the international organization since its establishment exceeds $7 billion.

Abu Hasna confirmed that the recent position of the U.S. Secretary of State is practically unrelated to what UNRWA is doing or to its neutrality and transparency, especially since the International Court of Justice just affirmed two days ago that the relief agency is a neutral and transparent organization committed to the laws and regulations of the United Nations.

The court emphasized that Israel is obligated to facilitate the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip, especially that provided by UNRWA.

Despite this ruling, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported a government official stating that Israel does not intend to allow the international organization to resume work in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Hasna affirmed that UNRWA is not an Israeli government association, but rather has its mandate from the United Nations General Assembly and carries out its tasks accordingly.

Although the Israeli decision to ban the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees will come into effect in January 2025, it continues its work in the Gaza Strip through 12,000 employees.

About 300,000 students are enrolled in UNRWA schools, either in-person or remotely, with the supervision of 8,000 teachers across all governorates of the Gaza Strip.

Since October 7, 2023, UNRWA has recorded more than 10 million medical visits to its health centers in the Gaza Strip, supervised by 1,300 health sector employees.

The media advisor for UNRWA emphasized that all proposals calling for the replacement of the international organization have failed.

Abu Hasna believes that all attempts to bypass UNRWA will not succeed because it possesses complete data about the refugees and the residents of the Gaza Strip.

He added that only the United Nations General Assembly is responsible for UNRWA, whether for its continued operation or for ending its mandate.

The media advisor for UNRWA warned that the cessation of UNRWA's services in the Gaza Strip would have catastrophic consequences because it provides services to Palestinians in health, education, solid waste collection, and water.

He pointed out that the relief agency is currently continuing all its services except for the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Israeli restrictions against UNRWA have reached the point of preventing international staff from entering the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Abu Hasna confirmed that there are movements, communications, and pressures being exerted by UNRWA on legal, political, and media levels.

UNRWA has developed comprehensive plans related to the educational process, and students have been reintegrated through the expansion of in-person education.

In the health sector, UNRWA is trying to restore the recovery of health centers and has opened mobile medical points that receive nearly 17,000 patients daily.