At a time of unprecedented suffering, amidst the onset of famine and mass destruction –– of life, livelihoods, and land ––Israel has chosen to strip Palestinians of their one remaining lifeline, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Since its creation in 1949, following the beginning of the Nakba in 1948, UNRWA has served as a testament to Palestine refugees’ inalienable right to self-determination and their collective right of return. It has performed quasi-state functions in its role as a direct service provider (encompassing, inter alia, education, healthcare, infrastructure, social services and microfinance schemes) and is responsible for the provision of emergency services.

All of this is now at risk, as Israel began systematically targeting UNRWA staff, operations, and buildings in both Gaza and the West Bank over a year ago, in October 2023. Beyond launching physical attacks against the Agency, the Israeli government has taken steps to evict UNRWA from its premises in the West Bank and even passed two legislative bills which, when implemented, will bar UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory and prevent it from carrying out its activities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by prohibiting Israeli state authorities from having any contact with the Agency.  

In order to highlight the gravity of the situation, the seriousness of the rhetorical, physical, and legislative attacks against UNRWA, as well as the direct, lethal consequences this has had on the human rights of Palestinians throughout the OPT, Al-Haq has developed a comprehensive Q&A covering: the role of UNRWA and what it represents; its importance in the OPT and regionally; historical and recent Israeli attacks against the Agency; the adverse effects of Israel’s campaign on Palestinians in Gaza; and the urgent action which must be taken to address these grave human rights violations.

Published on International Human Rights Day, this Q&A serves as a reminder to States, international institutions and organisations, and individuals of the need to take tangible steps to both counteract and prevent Israel’s targeting of UNRWA and the Palestinian lives it is mandated to protect. This is not only necessary to safeguard the fundamental human rights of Palestinians throughout the OPT, it is crucial to vindicating their inviolable right to self-determination and the freedom to return to their homeland from which they have been forcibly displaced.

Israel will completely shut off access to UNRWA from 26 January 2025 –– within weeks. The closure of UNRWA is a genocidal act, imposing on Palestinians conditions of life intended to bring about their destruction. The international community must intervene using every means to protect UNRWA and ensure the provision of UNRWA services to the Palestinian people.

Please find the UNRWA Q&A here.