The Palestinians' need for UNRWA has increased over the past two years following the 'Israeli' war on Gaza .
UNRWA warns of unprecedented disinformation campaign
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- UNRWA says a coordinated disinformation campaign aims to dismantle its role.
- The UN body warns the poorest Palestinian refugees would pay the highest price.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned it has been facing a coordinated disinformation campaign for more than two years, saying the effort has now reached “unprecedented levels”.
In a statement posted on X, the UN humanitarian body said one of the most persistent false claims alleges that UNRWA “keeps Palestine refugees in a permanent state of dependency”.
Read more: UNRWA warns of ‘Israeli’ control plan in Nur Shams
“Palestine refugees remain refugees wherever they are in the absence of a just and lasting political solution,” UNRWA said.
Dismantling UNRWA would deepen suffering
UNRWA stressed that dismantling its operations would not end Palestinian refugee status without a political settlement. Instead, it warned, the move would most severely impact the poorest and most vulnerable refugees, particularly those living in camps who rely entirely on UNRWA for education, health care, and relief services.
The organization said disinformation campaigns “divert attention and cause real harm to one of the most vulnerable populations in the Middle East”, arguing that the real alternative lies in “serious investment in peace and in viable future Palestinian institutions”.
Pressure during Gaza war
Established in December 1949 under UN General Assembly Resolution 302, UNRWA provides essential services to Palestinian refugees and their descendants across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, and Gaza.
Read more: "Another layer of misery": UNRWA warns Gaza storm worsens suffering for Palestinians
During two years of war waged by ‘Israel’ on Gaza, UNRWA has faced escalating pressure. At the start of the war, ‘Israeli’ accused the organization of supporting attacks and employing "militants", allegations UNRWA has repeatedly denied.
The UN body said several of its facilities in Gaza, including schools and health centers used as shelters, were targeted by the ‘Israeli’ military.
In 2024, the Knesset passed legislation banning UNRWA’s work, and ‘Israel’ formally informed the United Nations of its decision to cancel the agreement governing relations with the organization since 1967.
UNRWA said its headquarters in occupied Jerusalem was forcibly raided two weeks ago, with property seized and the UN flag replaced by the ‘Israeli’ flag. It also reported ongoing restrictions on its operations in Gaza and severe limitations on humanitarian aid access.
The organization said the campaign against it began before the ‘Israeli’ war on Gaza, aimed at undermining funding and dismantling its services.
As humanitarian needs continue to soar following two years of ‘Israeli’ war on Gaza, UNRWA warned that dismantling its work would push an already catastrophic situation toward further collapse.
