What Is The Future Of UNRWA?

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) The UN agency for Palestinian refugees is facing the worst crisis in its history. Under political pressure, financially weakened and increasingly sidelined in Gaza, UNRWA's future looks more and more uncertain. This content was published on May 23, 2026 - 10:00 10 minutes

Based in Geneva, I cover the work of the United Nations and other international organisations there. My focus is on humanitarian aid, human rights, and peace diplomacy. I studied business and economics at the University of Lausanne before training as a journalist and joining SWI swissinfo in 2021.

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As he prepared to leave office on March 31, Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), was frank about his concern about the future of the organisation, which he said was facing“immense challenges”.

“UNRWA is close to becoming unviable,” he warned during a press conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Founded in 1949 to support Palestinians displaced by the 1948 war, UNRWA has since provided basic health and education services to millions of people across the Middle East. Although the agency now performs functions resembling those of a state, it was originally intended only as a temporary relief body. In the absence of a political settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, however, its mandate has been repeatedly renewed.

Since the start of the war in Gaza, launched in response to the Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, UNRWA has come under intense pressure. In just over two years, Israeli bombardments have killed nearly 400External link of the agency's 13,000 employees in the Palestinian enclave, while hundreds of its facilities have been destroyed – an unprecedented toll in UN history.

In January 2026, tensions escalated further when Israel demolished UNRWA premises in occupied East Jerusalem after banning the agency from operating on its territory.

Eliminating UNRWA has become“a war objective”

“Its elimination has become a war objective,” Lazzarini said of the Israeli attacks against the agency. According to him, UNRWA has been the target of a“disinformation campaign” by the Israeli government, which claims the organisation has been infiltrated by Hamas and is no longer operational in the Palestinian territories. The aim, he added, is to erode international support for both the agency and Palestinian rights within any future political settlement.

Historically opposed to UNRWA, Israel argues that the agency perpetuates the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by allowing refugee status to be passed down through generations. On the Palestinian side, UNRWA's refugee registry is seen as recognition of a right of return – a demand rejected by the Israeli government.

>> Read our article explaining the Israeli accusations against UNRWA:

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This content was published on Mar 1, 2024 Israel claims that UNRWA colludes with Hamas, leading donors like Switzerland to withhold funding for the agency. A look at the allegations plaguing the humanitarian organisation.

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