Human Rights Organization Accuses 'UNRWA' of Succumbing to Occupation After Dismissing 70 Employees in Gaza

The Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK expressed its strong condemnation of the decision by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to immediately terminate the services of 70 employees in the Gaza Strip. The organization considered this action to be based entirely on allegations issued by the Israeli occupation authorities without providing any concrete evidence to support them, representing a serious retreat from standards of employment justice.

The organization clarified in a statement that the decision, signed by the Acting Commissioner-General, Christian Saunders, on June 11, came despite the agency's explicit admission that it had not received any documents proving the charges against the employees. It noted that UNRWA had repeatedly requested sufficient information from the Israeli side, but its requests were met with disregard, yet it proceeded with the dismissal procedures.

The statement emphasized that the dismissal decision is not merely an administrative measure, but a blatant violation of international law and the rights of workers guaranteed by UN standards. The organization affirmed that depriving dozens of employees of their sole source of income amidst the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip is a collective punishment affecting dozens of Palestinian families already suffering from the ravages of war.

Human rights sources pointed out that UNRWA tried to justify the move by stating it was not a disciplinary measure and did not imply proof of charges, but the results on the ground confirm the opposite. The organization warned that this approach establishes a dangerous legal and administrative precedent that allows for targeting international personnel based on unproven political rumors, thereby weakening the immunity of humanitarian organization workers.

The organization recalled that this behavior falls within a recurring pattern of systematic Israeli incitement against the agency and its staff, which previous international investigations failed to prove. It noted that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services conducted extensive investigations in 2024 and found no evidence to incriminate the employees targeted by Israeli accusations at that time.

The statement also noted the international legal position, where the International Court of Justice concluded in October 2025 that Israel had not provided sufficient evidence to support its claims regarding UNRWA employees' affiliation with Palestinian factions. The organization believed that ignoring these legal findings and succumbing to political pressures transforms the agency from a protector of refugees into an entity responsive to the dictates of the occupation.

The organization strongly criticized a UN agency's reliance on intelligence reports from a state accused of committing grave violations, considering that this undermines the principle of humanitarian neutrality. It added that the independence of international institutions is in real danger when their employment decisions become hostage to external security pressures primarily aimed at liquidating the refugee issue.

The organization indicated that the current international environment has failed to provide the necessary political protection for UNRWA, making it vulnerable to financial and political blackmail. Despite the agency's acknowledgment of its weak intelligence capabilities and reliance on state cooperation, this does not justify sacrificing the rights and professional future of employees without proper legal justification.

The organization questioned the utility of attempts to appease the occupation authorities, at a time when the Israeli government continues to enact legislation aimed at completely banning UNRWA's activities. It affirmed that administrative concessions will not stop the Israeli campaign aimed at ending the agency's role as an international witness to the ongoing Palestinian Nakba for decades.

The human rights organization demanded that the UNRWA Commissioner-General immediately reverse the dismissal decisions and reinstate all employees to their positions with full guarantee of their rights. It called for the necessity of forming an independent investigation committee to examine the pressures faced by the administration to make such decisions that affect the integrity of UN work in the occupied territories.

In the same context, the organization warned that international silence towards targeting UNRWA is no longer a neutral stance, but has become an indirect encouragement for the occupation to continue its pressures. It considered that weakening the agency at this critical time serves agendas seeking to liquidate legitimate Palestinian rights and revoke the refugee status of millions of Palestinians.

It is worth noting that since the start of the aggression on Gaza, UNRWA has faced a fierce campaign that led to the suspension of its funding by several Western countries based on unproven Israeli claims. This financial crisis has threatened the agency's ability to provide relief, health, and educational services to millions of refugees who depend entirely on it.

International reports confirm that UNRWA remains the backbone of humanitarian work in Gaza, and any harm to its functional structure will exacerbate human suffering. Human rights organizations believe that targeting employees is part of a broader strategy to undermine the legal and political status of Palestinian refugees in international forums.

The organization concluded its statement by emphasizing that UNRWA is not just a service provider, but a symbol of international responsibility towards the refugee issue until a just solution is found. It called on the international community to provide a financial and political safety net for the agency that protects it from blackmail and ensures the continuation of its humanitarian mission away from political interference.

The reliance of a UN agency on intelligence information provided by an occupying state accused of grave violations undermines the principle of humanitarian neutrality and threatens the independence of international institutions.