Palestinian Refugees in West Bank Fear Closure of UNRWA, Reports Reuters

By Yosri Al Jamal

JERUSALEM – In refugee camps throughout the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinians dependent on the U.N. agency for education and healthcare are deeply concerned about potential service disruptions. This anxiety stems from a halt in funding by donors following allegations that agency staff were involved in the Hamas attack on October 7.

While much attention has been directed at the agency’s emergency operations in the war-torn Gaza Strip—where it plays a crucial role in supporting the area’s 2.3 million residents—UNRWA also serves as a vital resource for Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, including over 870,000 individuals in the West Bank. The agency operates 96 schools and 43 primary healthcare facilities in the region.

"If aid from UNRWA is cut off, there will be no help for residents, especially in the refugee camps where dependence on the agency is high," stated Mohammad al-Masri, a resident of Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem.

UNRWA had recently announced the dismissal of staff after receiving allegations from Israel that 12 of its 13,000 employees in Gaza were complicit in the October 7 assault, during which Hamas militants breached border security and attacked Israeli communities. This assault resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. In retaliation, Israel has conducted extensive aerial and ground operations in Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in over 28,000 fatalities in the enclave.

These accusations against UNRWA have reignited long-standing Israeli calls to dismantle the agency, which both parties view as intimately connected to the refugee crisis originating with Israel’s establishment in 1948—a central issue in their enduring conflict.

About 700,000 Palestinians were either forced to leave or fled at that time, many relocating to neighboring Arab countries where their descendants still reside. The initial tent camps have since transformed into densely populated townships. Despite the lack of a permanent resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, these individuals maintain their refugee status, claiming a right to return to their former homes within Israel.

Israel has consistently rejected this claim, asserting that those who left chose to do so and thus forfeit any right of return. Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated calls for UNRWA’s closure, arguing that the agency seeks to sustain the refugee issue.

Daoud Faraj was just 10 years old when his family became refugees; now at 85, he has spent the majority of his life in the Aida refugee camp near Jerusalem. "Cutting off aid will impact many individuals—not just me," he commented, highlighting the importance of the health services and educational facilities that UNRWA provides within the camp.

The agency is hopeful that donors will reconsider their funding choices in the coming weeks following a preliminary report addressing the allegations against UNRWA and its response to them. However, it has warned that without restored funding, it could exhaust its resources to continue operations by the end of February.

"It is possible that UNRWA may face the worst-case scenario of halting all operations—not only in Gaza but also in other areas where we provide services," noted Kazem Abu Khalaf, a spokesperson for the agency. An internal U.N. investigation has been initiated as the United States, the leading donor to UNRWA, along with several other countries, has paused their contributions following these allegations.

Outside the UNRWA operations hub in Jerusalem, the city’s deputy mayor, Aryeh King, addressed a protest comprised of Israeli demonstrators calling for the agency’s closure. "It is time for the Israeli government to treat this organization as an enemy," King declared as protesters held signs demanding the expulsion of UNRWA.