The United States-led Board of Peace (BoP) has repeatedly stated that the UNRWA agency for Palestinian refugees will have no role in Gaza – echoing a longstanding Israeli demand to sideline the organization considered a lifeline for millions of Palestinians. This stance, reflected in a recent post on X, underscores a long-standing diplomatic challenge and a core component of Israel’s strategy to curtail UNRWA’s operations within the Gaza Strip. The BoP’s position, outlined in a Friday post, is a direct challenge to the UNRWA’s established functions, which include overseeing the ‘ceasefire’ and Gaza’s reconstruction. The board’s assertion that UNRWA fails to meet the needs of Gaza’s population, a standard it maintains is inconsistent with the agency’s established mandate, has fueled significant concern among international observers.
The BoP unveiled a multibillion-dollar reconstruction plan on Wednesday, aiming to begin Gaza’s recovery nearly a year after the ‘ceasefire’ commenced in the devastated territory. This plan, presented on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), comes as key elements of the ‘ceasefire’ remain stalled, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas. The BoP’s approach is fundamentally rooted in a rejection of UNRWA’s current activities, framed as a strategic impediment to Gaza’s rebuilding.
The BoP’s detailed proposal for reconstruction, encompassing a 66-projected blueprint with a budget of $2.4 billion, explicitly excludes UNRWA’s involvement. The agency’s programmes could continue if they served Gaza’s residents well, but maintains that ‘UNRWA’s days are over’, a statement that underscores a significant shift in the agency’s operational scope. This position is a direct response to Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians and the persistent restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, coupled with stalled reconstruction efforts. The BoP’s stance, however, aligns closely with Israel’s vision of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian experience, reflecting a deliberate effort to dismantle the agency’s capabilities.
In an indirect response to the BoP’s position, Christian Saunders, the agency’s Commissioner-General, confirmed multiple meetings between BoP officials and UNRWA representatives several times. According to an official, the agency’s programmes could continue if they served Gaza’s residents well, but maintained that ‘UNRWA’s days are over’. The official also stated that the BoP’s approach strengthens Israel’s efforts to dismantle the UN agency.
UNRWA’s presence in Gaza is substantial, employing approximately 11,000 Palestinian employees, and remains heavily involved in healthcare, education, water and sanitation services. Its exclusion is particularly significant considering the scale of displacement and the ongoing restrictions on aid entering Gaza. The agency has for decades provided crucial aid and education services to Palestinians in Gaza, occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, and the Palestinian refugee community globally. The agency’s perceived role as a safeguard for Palestinian right of return, while Israel seeks to dismantle it, is a core element of the BoP’s strategy.
The International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion in October, stated that allegations that ‘a significant part of UNRWA’s employees are ‘members of Hamas … or other terrorist factions’ had not been substantiated. The BoP’s position strengthens the Israeli efforts to dismantle the UN agency, reflecting a clear alignment with Israel’s strategic goals. Israel has for years sought to remove UNRWA from Gaza, accusing the agency of being infiltrated by Hamas. The BoP’s stance underscores a deliberate effort to undermine Palestinian refugee rights and hinder the agency’s ability to deliver assistance.
Experts suggest that the BoP’s actions are directly linked to Israel’s vision of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian experience. Israel currently occupies over 60 percent of Gaza while most of the territory’s 2.3 million people remain displaced. The article concludes by highlighting the scale of destruction in Gaza, with more than half of the population living in displacement sites or damaged and inadequate shelters, and a critical shortage of fuel, medical supplies, and spare parts, all contributing to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and hindering reconstruction efforts.
The BoP’s approach, coupled with Israel’s ongoing military operations and settlement expansion, is a key element of the broader geopolitical landscape, positioning the agency as a critical point of contention and potential vulnerability.
This situation reflects a complex interplay of diplomatic, political, and humanitarian considerations, intensifying the ongoing struggle for a just and sustainable future for Palestinians in Gaza.
Source: Al Jazeera
