Threats and risks of searching for an alternative to UNRWA

On October 28, 2024, the Israeli Knesset voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution submitted by members of the Likud party, banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) within the territories controlled by Israel.

The decision prohibits UNRWA from carrying out any activity or providing any services in the areas controlled by Israel, and will come into effect after 90 days from its date, which threatens to disrupt essential humanitarian assistance to approximately 2.2 million people in Gaza, who are suffering from difficult humanitarian conditions due to the blockade, hunger, lack of medicine, and the ongoing genocidal war for more than a year, in addition to endangering humanitarian assistance in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, and Syria.

The decision has sparked widespread concern among humanitarian organizations, who have warned of disastrous consequences for Palestinian refugees, especially in the absence of an alternative to UNRWA. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressed that banning UNRWA would have a significant impact on the Palestinians, and that Israel, as an occupying power, was obligated to meet their needs. In response, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said that Israel would continue to provide humanitarian aid, accusing UNRWA of bias in favor of Hamas. The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced its support for the work of other UN agencies in Gaza, while the United Nations denied the existence of any alternative that would match UNRWA’s role.

In conjunction with these developments, Norway announced its intention to submit a request to the UN General Assembly to obtain a legal opinion from the International Court of Justice on Israel’s obligation to facilitate the entry of aid provided to the Palestinians by international organizations, whether from the United Nations or other countries. Despite Norway’s sincere intentions, which recognize the Palestinian state and the rights of the Palestinian people, the ongoing debate about finding an alternative to UNRWA poses a major threat to the Palestinian refugee issue, as the agency’s mission is not limited to providing humanitarian aid only, but is also considered a symbol of the Palestinians’ right of return. On the other hand, talking about an alternative role for UNRWA, especially in the Israeli context, represents a major challenge under the current circumstances, as the Israeli occupation will inevitably exploit the humanitarian aid file as a pressure card on the Palestinians instead of adhering to the principles of international humanitarian law, which it has never respected.

The ban reflects the desire of the extreme right-wing movements in Israel to establish the concept of Jerusalem as the unified capital of Israel, free of refugee camps, UNRWA offices, and any evidence of Palestinian identity. There seems to be a clear trend towards promoting the idea of displacement and settlement of Palestinian refugees in neighboring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, which contributes to reducing international support for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

The decision to ban UNRWA comes as part of a broader Israeli-American plan aimed at eliminating the agency’s role and ultimately liquidating the historical rights of Palestinian refugees. The US administration has already begun exploring alternatives to UNRWA, according to statements by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller in March 2024 about Washington’s search for alternative agencies to UNRWA to provide aid. It is most likely that these agencies will be of American nationality, as part of a US strategy aimed at consolidating and expanding its influence, in the face of the rise of China and Russia in the region.

This decision constitutes a new link in the chain of Israeli efforts and endeavors to reduce the role of UNRWA and liquidate the rights of Palestinian refugees. As the ban is about to be implemented, it becomes necessary to strengthen Palestinian, Arab and international action to protect UNRWA and support the rights of refugees. The next stage requires concerted efforts to break this decision and emphasize the importance of UNRWA as a fundamental pillar for providing humanitarian aid and defending the rights of refugees in the face of the ongoing escalation of the occupation, away from any pressure or political blackmail.