unrwa

UNRWA, the Palestinian Refugee Crisis, and Hamas’s Exploitation

  • UNRWA’s Role in Perpetuating Refugee Status: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), established in 1949, uniquely allows Palestinian refugee status to be inherited across generations, inflating the number of registered refugees to 5.9 million by 2025, compared to the original 700,000 displaced in 1948. Unlike the UNHCR, which applies standard refugee criteria and resettles refugees, UNRWA’s model entrenches refugee status, with no precedent for such a policy among other refugee groups globally.

  • Hamas’s Interception of Aid: Humanitarian aid to Gaza, including over 1.2 million tons from Israel via 60,841 trucks since October 7, 2023, is frequently intercepted by Hamas. Rather than distributing it to alleviate the suffering of 1.8 million food-insecure Palestinians, Hamas hoards or resells aid at inflated prices, profiting from scarcity and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

  • UNRWA’s Ties to Hamas: Israeli intelligence alleges that 10% of UNRWA’s 12,000 Gaza staff (approximately 1,200) have links to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with at least 12 employees implicated in the October 7, 2023, attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis. A UN investigation led to nine staff terminations, but Israel claims broader complicity, supported by evidence of Hamas operatives among UNRWA teachers and senior staff.

  • Misuse of UNRWA Facilities: Israel has documented Hamas’s use of UNRWA facilities for terrorist activities, including weapons storage, tunnel networks under schools and headquarters, and command centers within active shelters. Released Israeli hostages reported being held in UNRWA camps, and IDF operations uncovered Hamas infrastructure in multiple UNRWA sites, violating the neutrality of UN-protected spaces.

  • Israel’s Ban on UNRWA: In November 2024, Israel’s Knesset passed legislation banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and prohibiting contact with its staff, effective January 2025, citing the agency’s ties to Hamas and its role in perpetuating conflict. The ban, supported by evidence of UNRWA staff involvement in terrorism and incitement in schools, disrupts aid coordination but aims to depoliticize humanitarian efforts and prevent Hamas’s exploitation.

  • Incitements in UNRWA Schools: Israel and international bodies, including the European Commission, have criticized UNRWA’s educational materials for promoting anti-Israel sentiment and, in some cases, antisemitic content or incitement to violence. A 2022 Israeli watchdog report claimed UNRWA curricula taught students that Israel seeks to “erase Palestinian identity,” prompting calls for conditional funding until reforms are made. UNRWA has disputed these claims, stating some materials are not used or have been revised