European lawmakers urge UN to shut down UNRWA

On January 28, Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, declared that the majority of the UN Security Council members expressed steadfast support for the agency. 

He also voiced grave concern over the Israeli Parliament’s legislation aimed at halting UNRWA’s essential services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

The core issue, however, lies in UNRWA’s infiltration by Hamas members, not just in Gaza, but also in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The organization has been under scrutiny for years over accusations that it harbors and enables terrorist activities.

UNRWA has reluctantly admitted that some of its staff participated in the October 7 massacres, a shocking revelation that raises serious concerns about the agency’s integrity. However, it continues to assert that the rest of its personnel are beyond suspicion, an assertion that many experts dispute.

A History of Complicity

For decades, UNRWA has been accused of turning a blind eye—or even collaborating—with terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Numerous reports and investigations have exposed how UNRWA-run facilities, including schools, hospitals, and storage centers, have been used by terrorists. This has been particularly evident in Gaza, where Israeli forces have uncovered tunnels and weapon stockpiles hidden within UNRWA buildings.

Given these longstanding issues, there is a growing call to end UNRWA’s operations in its current form. While humanitarian aid to Palestinians is crucial, it must be delivered through transparent, independent structures that are not compromised by terrorist affiliations.

The international community faces a critical choice: continue supporting an agency plagued by allegations of complicity with terrorist groups, or establish a new, accountable framework that genuinely serves the needs of Palestinian civilians while ensuring that aid is not exploited for violent agendas.

UNRWA faces pressure as 20 European MPs seek its dissolution

Thirty members of the European Parliament have urged United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to halt the operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), accusing it of having "failed in all its missions." The letter, dated January 27 claims that UNRWA has been complicit in aiding Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and others.

French MEP Céline Imart, who authored the letter co-signed by 29 of her colleagues, wrote, "Following the long-awaited release of Israeli hostages held by the terrorist organization Hamas, the press alerted the international community that these hostages were being held captive in UNRWA facilities, an agency under your responsibility." She argued that UNRWA had "assisted a terrorist organization in hiding hostages, which is politically, morally, and legally highly reprehensible."

Imart called on Guterres to "put an end to UNRWA's operations" to avoid tarnishing the "values" of the United Nations. 

The letter was signed by prominent figures, including François-Xavier Bellamy and Nadine Morano from the French Republicans party, as well as members of the European People's Party (center-right), Patriots for Europe, and the European Conservatives and Reformists (far-right). Romanian socialist MEP Maria Grapini, a member of the left, also signed the letter.