Israel's Campaign Against UNRWA: A Central Element of the Palestinian Genocide

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has escalated significantly since October 2023, with a focus on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Israeli officials, including Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Arieh King, have publicly declared intentions to eliminate UNRWA personnel, framing the agency as a target in a broader campaign against the Palestinian people. This campaign has been characterized by accusations of terrorism against UNRWA staff, leading to a withdrawal of funding from major donors and a significant reduction in the agency's ability to provide essential services.

UNRWA has historically provided vital services, including health care, education, and social support to Palestinian refugees. However, Israel's hostility towards the agency has intensified, particularly following the outbreak of violence in late 2023. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in January 2024 that Israel was obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza, highlighting the critical role UNRWA plays in delivering assistance to over a million people. The Israeli government’s narrative has increasingly portrayed UNRWA as complicit in terrorism, which has facilitated a global disinformation campaign against the agency.

Critics argue that the dismantling of UNRWA is part of a genocidal strategy against Palestinians. Philippe Lazarini, the outgoing UNRWA commissioner general, has warned that the agency is on the brink of collapse due to a lack of support from the international community. He has pointed out that the UN system itself has failed to defend the agency and its staff, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing concern over alleged staff involvement in attacks without substantial evidence. This has led to accusations of complicity in genocide against donor nations that have not acted to support UNRWA.

Lazarini has emphasized the need for donor nations to recognize their legal obligations under the genocide convention to prevent and suppress acts of genocide. He has called for economic and political sanctions against Israel as a means to counteract its actions against UNRWA. The failure of nations like the United States and Sweden to resume funding after the accusations against UNRWA staff has been particularly criticized, as it signals tacit approval of Israel's actions.

• “God willing, we will expel, kill, eliminate, and destroy all UNRWA personnel.” — Arieh King, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem

• “As Philippe Lazarinni prepares to leave office after a six-year term as UNRWA commissioner general, during which the systematic dismantling of the agency has taken place, his parting message is that UNRWA is on the verge of collapse.” — Philippe Lazarini, UNRWA Commissioner General

The implications of the ongoing situation are profound, as the normalization of genocide and war crimes could reshape international humanitarian law and response. The international community faces pressure to act decisively to support UNRWA and uphold its commitments to protect human rights in the region. Failure to do so may lead to further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as increased tensions in the broader Middle East.