New Crisis in UNRWA: Hamas Denounces Termination of Contracts for Staff Stranded Outside Gaza

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) issued a press statement on Wednesday, condemning the decision by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to terminate the contracts of its employees located outside the Gaza Strip, who were previously placed under "exceptional leave."

The movement described this measure as "unjust," asserting that it violates the employment rights of hundreds of workers whose return was prevented by the war conditions and the occupation's closure of the Rafah crossing, thus adding a new dimension to the humanitarian and administrative crises plaguing the Strip.

This crisis comes at a time when the Gaza Strip is suffering from the repercussions of a devastating war that has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands and the disruption of professional life in most sectors.

A large number of UNRWA employees had left the Strip during periods of escalation or for medical and humanitarian reasons, only to find themselves stranded abroad after the fascist occupation took control of the Rafah crossing and closed it completely.

UNRWA has faced significant financial and political pressures since 2024, having been subjected to incitement campaigns by the occupation to reduce its role, which prompted the administration to take a series of austerity measures, the latest of which was this decision targeting "traveling" employees.

In its statement, Hamas stressed that the timing of this decision contradicts the relief role entrusted to the international agency, considering that the continued closure of the crossings is part of the "genocidal war" practiced by the occupation, and international organizations should not punish employees for circumstances beyond their control.

The movement's demands centered on three main points:

Immediate Reversal: Demanding the agency to cancel the decision to terminate contracts and maintain job security for employees. Bearing Responsibility: UNRWA's commitment to its legal and moral duty towards refugees and its employees alike. International Pressure: Mobilizing a global stance to pressure the occupation to break the restrictions imposed on humanitarian operations and open the crossings. Observers believe that this development could lead to an escalation of union protests within the agency's institutions, especially since a large number of educational and medical staff are included in this decision, which could negatively affect the quality of services provided to refugees in light of the current humanitarian catastrophe.

This crisis places UNRWA in a complex diplomatic position; between its need to reduce expenses and its commitment to protecting the rights of its affiliates. As 2026 approaches, it seems that the issue of refugees and international organizations will remain an arena for political conflict, where the occupation tries to exploit any loophole to dismantle the agency, while Palestinian forces cling to its survival as an official witness to the right of return.

The coming days will reveal whether the agency will respond to humanitarian pressures, or whether the decision will become a fait accompli that increases the suffering of Palestinians in forced diaspora.