‘No role for UNRWA in Gaza’: Does the Board of Peace toe Israeli lines?

What Happened

The US-led Board of Peace (BoP) said on Friday that UNRWA will have no role in Gaza, stating it will work only with partners it deems reliable and capable of delivering for Gaza's population, and that UNRWA fails 'litmus tests' of trust and deradicalisation. The announcement came as the BoP unveiled a 66-project reconstruction blueprint on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, proposing $2.4bn for projects to begin Gaza's recovery. UNRWA acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders said excluding the agency was 'neither logical nor responsible', and former UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned that removing the agency could have a 'devastating' impact on Palestinians. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem called the decision 'a complete alignment with the Zionist [Israeli] position' and said it undermined Palestinian refugees' right of return. Israel has long sought to dismantle UNRWA, accusing it of Hamas infiltration; the International Court of Justice advisory opinion in October said such allegations had not been substantiated.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

UNRWA is the main provider of healthcare, education, water, and sanitation to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza and neighbouring countries. Excluding it from Gaza's reconstruction while ceasefire terms remain stalled — including Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament — could deepen humanitarian suffering and reshape the political landscape by weakening Palestinian refugee claims to right of return, aligning with longstanding Israeli demands.

Watch For

Monitor whether the BoP secures alternative implementing partners or formally transfers UNRWA responsibilities; responses from UN member states and donors on UNRWA funding; progress on the linked Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament roadmap; and any follow-up statements from UNRWA, Hamas, or Israel in reaction to the reconstruction plan.