Editing UNRWA

{{Short description|UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                = UNRWA
| full_name           = United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
| pronounce           = 
| native_name         = 
| native_name_lang    = 
| nickname            = 
| named_after         = 
| image               = 
| image_size          = 
| alt                 = 
| caption             = 
| logo                = United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Logo.svg
| logo_size           = 200px
| logo_alt            = 
| logo_caption        = 
| abbreviation        = UNRWA
| formation           = {{start date and age|1949|12|8|df=yes}}
| type                = United Nations programme
| purpose             = Provide direct relief and works programmes for Palestinian refugees
| headquarters        = {{ubl | [[Amman]], Jordan | [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], [[Palestine]]}}
| coords              = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} -->
| region              = [[Levant]]
| services            = {{hlist | [[Education]] | [[health care]] | [[social services|relief/social services]] | [[public works|infrastructure/camp improvement]] | [[microcredit|micro&shy;financial assistance]] | [[emergency service|emergency response]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do |title=What We Do |author=UNRWA |date=n.d. |website=UNRWA |publisher=United Nations |access-date=16 December 2018 |archive-date=17 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014847/https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| fields              = [[Humanitarian aid]]
| leader_title        = Commissioner-general
| leader_name         = [[Philippe Lazzarini]]
| leader_title2       = Deputy commissioner-general
| leader_name2        = Leni Stenseth
| parent_organization = [[United Nations]]
| budget              = US$806 million<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/how-you-can-help/how-we-spend-funds|title=HOW WE SPEND FUNDS|author=UNRWA|date=August 2020|website=UNRWA|publisher=United Nations|access-date=13 August 2020|archive-date=17 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217092243/https://www.unrwa.org/how-you-can-help/how-we-spend-funds|url-status=live}}</ref>
| budget_year         = 2020
| revenue             = 
| revenue_year        = 
| disbursements       = 
| expenses            = 
| expenses_year       = 
| endowment           = 
| endowment_year      = 
| staff               = 30,000
| staff_year          = 
| volunteers          = 
| volunteers_year     = 
| website             = {{Official URL}}
| remarks             = 
| formerly            = 
}}
[[File:UNRWA Fields of Operations Map 2017.pdf|thumb|right|UNRWA operations, as of 1 January 2017]]
[[File:UNRWA_staff_member_comforts_a_distressed_child_at_a_school_shelter_in_Nuseirat_camp,_Gaza_Strip.jpg|thumb|240x240px|UNRWA staff member comforts a distressed child at a school shelter in Nuseirat camp, Gaza Strip]]
The '''United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East'''{{efn|{{langx|ar|وكالة الأمم المتحدة لإغاثة وتشغيل لاجئي فلسطين في الشرق الأدنى|wikālat al-Umam al-Muttaḥida li-iġāṯa wa-tašġīl lājiʾī Filasṭīn fī š-Šarq al-Adnā|links=no}}.}} ('''UNRWA''', <small>pronounced</small> {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʌ|n|r|ə}} {{respell|UN|rə}}){{efn|{{langx|ar|الأونروا|al-Ūnarwā|links=no}} <small>or</small> {{transliteration|ar|al-Ūnurwā}}.}} is a [[United Nations System|UN agency]] that supports the relief and [[Human development (economics)|human development]] of [[Palestinian refugees]]. UNRWA's mandate encompasses Palestinians [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|who fled or were expelled]] during the [[Nakba]], the [[1948 Palestine War]], and subsequent conflicts, as well as their descendants,<ref>{{citation|last=Dowty|first=Alan|title=Israel/Palestine|page=243|year=2012|publisher=Polity|isbn=9780745656113}}</ref><ref name="figures2">[http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/2011080123958.pdf UNRWA in Figures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108192828/http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/2011080123958.pdf |date=8 January 2021 }}.</ref> including legally adopted children.<ref>{{cite web|title=Consolidated Eligibility and Registration Instructions|url=https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/2010011995652.pdf|publisher=UNRWA|quote=Persons who meet UNRWA's Palestine Refugee criteria These are persons whose regular place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict. Palestine Refugees, and descendants of Palestine refugee males, including legally adopted children, are eligible to register for UNRWA services. The agency accepts new applications from persons who wish to be registered as Palestine Refugees. Once they are registered with UNRWA, persons in this category are referred to as Registered Refugees or as Registered Palestine Refugees.|access-date=7 February 2022|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901034936/https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/2010011995652.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2019, more than 5.6 million Palestinians are registered with UNRWA as refugees.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frequently asked questions|url=https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions|access-date=2020-08-09|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=10 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210040754/https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions|url-status=live}}</ref>

UNRWA was established in 1949 by the [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] (UNGA) to provide relief to all refugees resulting from the 1948 conflict; this initially included Jewish and Arab Palestine refugees inside the [[Israel|State of Israel]] until the Israeli government took over this responsibility in 1952.<ref>{{cite journal | first = Lance | last = Bartolomeusz | title = The mandate of UNRWA at sixty | journal = Refugee Survey Quarterly | date = 2009 | volume = 28 | issue = 2 & 3 | pages = 452–474| doi = 10.1093/rsq/hdp033  | issn = 1020-4067}}</ref><ref>UN General Assembly, Annual Report of the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, covering the period 1 July 1951 to 30 June 1952. Seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/2171) 1952. "Late in June, an agreement was concluded with Israel whereby that Government assumed responsibility for the care of the remaining 19,000 refugees in that country as of 1 July 1952."</ref><ref name="Until 1952 UNRWA served Jewish and Arab refugees">{{cite book|author=Howard Adelman, Elazar Barkan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=80j612aFo_4C&q=UNRWA+%22jewish+refugees%22+1952&pg=PA12|title=No Return, No Refuge: Rites and Rights in Minority Repatriation|date=28 June 2011|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-15336-2|pages=12|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=25 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425135840/https://books.google.com/books?id=80j612aFo_4C&q=UNRWA+%22jewish+refugees%22+1952&pg=PA12#v=snippet&q=UNRWA%20%22jewish%20refugees%22%201952&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> As a subsidiary body of the UNGA, UNRWA's mandate is subject to periodic renewal every three years; it has consistently been extended since its founding, most recently until 30 June 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heaney |first=Christopher |title=UN General Assembly Renews UNRWA Mandate - Press Release |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/un-general-assembly-renews-unrwa-mandate-press-release/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Question of Palestine |language=en-US |archive-date=3 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103170948/https://www.un.org/unispal/document/un-general-assembly-renews-unrwa-mandate-press-release/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

UNRWA employs over 30,000 people, most of them Palestinian refugees, and a small number of international staff.<ref name = "unrwa-working">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/careers/working-unrwa|title=Working at UNRWA|website=UNRWA|access-date=13 August 2020|archive-date=21 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921090305/https://www.unrwa.org/careers/working-unrwa|url-status=live}}</ref> Originally intended to provide employment and direct relief, its mandate has broadened to include providing education, health care, and social services to its target population. UNRWA operates in five areas: [[Jordan]], [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], the [[Gaza Strip]] and the [[West Bank]], including [[East Jerusalem]];{{sfn|UNRWA|UNHCR|2007|p=2,4}} aid for Palestinian refugees outside these five areas is provided by the [[UNHCR|United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] (UNHCR), established in 1950 as the main agency to aid all other refugees worldwide.{{sfn|UNRWA|UNHCR|2007|p=3,11|ps=: "The vast majority of Palestinian refugees fall under the UNRWA mandate, but there is still a large number living in other countries of the region, such as the Gulf States, Egypt, Iraq or Yemen, or further afield in Australia, Europe and America."}} UNRWA is the only UN agency dedicated to helping refugees from a specific region or conflict.<ref>{{cite web|last=Refugees|first=United Nations High Commissioner for|title=UNHCR&nbsp;- The UN Refugee Agency|url=http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home|access-date=31 December 2008|archive-date=12 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912041242/https://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Unlike UNRWA, UNHCR has a specific mandate to assist refugees in eliminating their refugee status by local integration in the current country, resettlement in a third country or repatriation when possible. ''See'' Miller, Elhanan (June 2012). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160207232443/http://icsr.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/1346247918ICSRAtkinPaperSeries_ElhananMiller.pdf Palestinian Refugees and the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Negotiations]" (PDF). International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence. Archived from [http://icsr.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/1346247918ICSRAtkinPaperSeries_ElhananMiller.pdf the original] (PDF) on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2015. <q>To use a trite image, while UNHCR strives to give its refugees fishing rods, UNRWA is busy distributing fish</q>}}

UNRWA has received praise and recognition for its work by various governments, public figures, and independent monitors. It has also been subject to controversy related to its operations, role in the Gaza Strip, relationship with [[Hamas]], and textbook content. Most recently, the agency [[Israeli allegations against UNRWA|faced allegations by the Israeli government]] that twelve of its employees were involved in the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]], leading to lay-offs, an investigation, and the temporary suspension of funding by numerous donors.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Jason |date=2024-01-26 |title=UN agency investigates staff suspected of role in 7 October attack on Israel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/unrwa-investigation-staff-7-october-attack-israel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126215919/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/unrwa-investigation-staff-7-october-attack-israel |archive-date=2024-01-26 |access-date=2024-01-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite news |last1=Salama |first1=Vivian |last2=Luhnow |first2=David |date=2024-01-26 |title=U.S. Halts Funding for U.N. Agency Amid Claims Staff Took Part in Oct. 7 Attacks |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-halts-funding-for-u-n-agency-amid-claims-staff-took-part-in-oct-7-attacks-3247918b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127001139/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-halts-funding-for-u-n-agency-amid-claims-staff-took-part-in-oct-7-attacks-3247918b |archive-date=2024-01-27 |access-date=2024-01-27 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=26 January 2024 |title=Serious allegations against UNRWA staff in the Gaza Strip: Statement by Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General |url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/serious-allegations-against-unrwa-staff-gaza-strip |access-date=28 January 2024 |publisher=UNRWA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-26 |title=UNRWA claims: UK halts aid to UN agency over allegation staff helped Hamas attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68104203 |access-date=2024-01-28 |language=en-GB |archive-date=26 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126235548/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68104203 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pelaez |first=Luis |date=2024-01-29 |title=UPDATED: List of Countries Suspending UNRWA Funding |url=https://unwatch.org/updated-list-of-countries-suspending-unwra-funding/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=UN Watch |language=en-US |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130051824/https://unwatch.org/updated-list-of-countries-suspending-unwra-funding/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of May 2024, several major donors have since resumed funding as the investigation remains ongoing.<ref name="ap090324">{{cite web |last1=Hadjicostis |first1=Menelaos |date=9 March 2024 |title=Another top donor says it will resume funding the UN agency for Palestinians as Gaza hunger grows |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-news-03-09-2024-6f4514fa1f4ad1f18a9d4331d81f917f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310000950/https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-news-03-09-2024-6f4514fa1f4ad1f18a9d4331d81f917f |archive-date=10 March 2024 |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=AP News |publisher=AP |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McVeigh |first=Karen |date=24 April 2024 |title=UK accused by Amnesty of 'deliberately destabilising' human rights globally |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/24/uk-accused-amnesty-destabilising-human-rights-globally-gaza-israel-russia-ethiopia-sudan-myanmar |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="auto6">{{Cite news |last=Schuetze |first=Christopher F. |date=24 April 2024 |title=After U.N. Report, Germany Says It Will Resume Funding for UNRWA |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/world/middleeast/germany-un-aid-unrwa-gaza.html |work=The New York Times |via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2025}} In October 2024, Israel's parliament passed a bill designating UNRWA as a terrorist group and prohibiting it from operating within the country.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Roth |first=Andrew |date=2024-10-28 |title=Israeli parliament votes to ban Unrwa from Israel within 90 days |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/28/israeli-lawmakers-pass-bill-that-could-halt-unwra-relief-work-in-gaza |access-date=2024-11-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Israel has long opposed the [[Palestinian right of return]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=DC (ACW) |first=Arab Center Washington |date=2024-12-10 |title=UNRWA Closure as Prelude to the Elimination of Palestinians' Right of Return |url=https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/unrwa-closure-as-prelude-to-the-elimination-of-palestinians-right-of-return/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Arab Center Washington DC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=In Targeting UNRWA, Israel Aims to Destroy the Right of Return |url=https://www.thecairoreview.com/essays/in-targeting-unrwa-israel-aims-to-destroy-the-right-of-return/?doing_wp_cron=1734796256.5846381187438964843750 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=The Cairo Review of Global Affairs |language=en-US}}</ref> and has accused UNRWA of "perpetuating the refugee issue".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nashed |first=Mat |title=What's behind Israel's decision to target UNRWA? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/1/31/israels-allegations-unrwa-effort-eliminate-agency |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> In January 2025, Israel's UNRWA ban went into effect.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect|title=Unrwa staff forced to leave as Israel's ban comes into effect|date=30 January 2025|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

==History and operations==
[[File:Total number of Palestinian refugees as defined by UNRWA (1950 - 2008).svg|thumb|240px|Total number of Palestinian refugees registered by UNRWA (1950–2008)]]
{{Palestinians}}

Following the outbreak of the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]] and the [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight]] of [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] Arabs, the [[United Nations General Assembly]] passed Resolution 212 (III), dated 19 November 1948, which established the UN Relief for Palestine Refugees (UNRPR) to provide emergency relief to Palestine refugees in coordination with other UN or humanitarian agencies.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2003-09-21 |title=Evolution of UNRWA's mandate to Palestine refugees - Statement of Commissioner-General |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-208942/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=United Nations |language=en-US |archive-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803104259/https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-208942/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In response to the political aspects of the conflict, less than a month later the General Assembly [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194|adopted Resolution 194]], creating the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine (UNCCP), mandated to help achieve a final settlement between the warring parties, including facilitating "the repatriation, resettlement and economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees" in collaboration with the UNRPR.<ref name=":8" /> By that time, the conflict had displaced over 700,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Who We Are UNRWA|url=https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are|access-date=2020-08-18|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024105529/https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are|url-status=live}}</ref>

Unable to resolve the "Palestine problem" which required political solutions beyond the scope of its mandate, the UNCCP recommended the creation of a "United Nations agency designed to continue relief activities and initiate job-creation projects" while an ultimate resolution was pending.<ref name=":8" /> Pursuant to this recommendation and to paragraph 11 of Resolution 194 which concerned refugees, on 8 December 1949 the General Assembly adopted Resolution 302(IV) which established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/content/general-assembly-resolution-302|title=General Assembly Resolution 302|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421162401/https://www.unrwa.org/content/general-assembly-resolution-302|url-status=live}}</ref> The resolution was adopted and passed unopposed, supported by [[Israel]] and the [[Arab]] states with only the [[Soviet bloc]] and South Africa abstaining.<ref>{{cite book |author=Khouri, Fred |title=The Arab–Israeli Dilemma |publisher=Syracuse University Press |year=1985 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/arabisraelidilem0000khou/page/129 129–130] |isbn=0-8156-2340-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/arabisraelidilem0000khou/page/129 |edition=3rd }}</ref>

UNRWA succeeded the UNRPR with a broader mandate for humanitarian assistance and development and the requirement to function neutrally.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|title=Resolution 302|url=https://www.unrwa.org/content/resolution-302|access-date=2020-08-18|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927124551/https://www.unrwa.org/content/resolution-302|url-status=live}}</ref> When it began operations in 1950 the initial scope of its work was "direct relief and works programmes" to Palestine refugees in order to "prevent conditions of starvation and distress… and to further conditions of peace and stability".<ref name="auto2"/> UNRWA's mandate was expanded in December 1950 through Resolution 393(V) which instructed the agency to "establish a reintegration fund which shall be utilized ... for the permanent re-establishment of refugees and their removal from relief". A 26 January 1952 resolution allocated four times as much funding on reintegration than on relief, requesting UNRWA to otherwise continue providing programs for health care, education, and general welfare.<ref name=":8" />

===Definition of refugee ===
UNRWA has developed its own working definition of "[[refugee]]" to allow it to provide [[humanitarian assistance]]. Its definition does not cover final status.<ref name="f">{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/unrwa/overview/qa.html#c|title=UNRWA's Frequently Asked Questions|publisher=United Nations|access-date=2007-11-20|archive-date=11 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911100145/http://www.un.org/unrwa/overview/qa.html#c|url-status=live}}</ref>

<blockquote>[[Palestinian refugees|Palestine refugees]] are "persons whose regular place of residence was [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict."</blockquote>

The [[Six-Day War]] of 1967 generated a new wave of Palestinian refugees who could not be included in the original UNRWA definition. Since 1991, the UN General Assembly has adopted an annual resolution allowing the 1967 refugees within the UNRWA mandate. UNRWA's "mandate" is not a single document but the sum of all relevant resolutions and requests of the General Assembly. While focused on Palestine refugees, it also extends to persons displaced by "the 1967 and subsequent hostilities" and occasionally to a broader cross-section of the local community. Several categories of persons have long been registered as eligible to receive UNRWA services although not "Palestine refugees".<ref>{{cite journal|title= The Mandate of UNRWA at Sixty |last=Batholomeusz|first=Lance|year=2010|journal=Refugee Survey Quarterly|volume=28|issue=2–3|pages=452–474|doi=10.1093/rsq/hdp033|s2cid=145411639}}</ref> The descendants of Palestine refugee males, including adopted children, are also eligible for registration as refugees.

==Organisation and mandate==
UNRWA is a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly, established pursuant to Articles 7(2) and 22 of the UN Charter.<ref>Secretary-General's Bulletin, "Organization of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East", UN Doc. ST/SGB/2000/6, 17 Feb. 2000, '''note 1'''; W. Dale, "UNRWA – A Subsidiary Organ of the UN", International & Comparative Law Quarterly, Vol. 23, 1974, '''582–83'''; D. Sarooshi, "The Legal Framework Governing United Nations Subsidiary Organs", British Yearbook of International Law, Vol. 67, 1997, '''413–78'''.</ref> It is one of two UN agencies that reports directly to the General Assembly.<ref name=":1">Lance Bartholomeusz, [https://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/201006109246.pdf THE MANDATE OF UNRWA AT SIXTY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031223629/http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/201006109246.pdf |date=31 October 2020 }}, '''p. 454.'''</ref>{{efn|The other agency is the [[United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research]] (UNIDIR).}} The scope and renewal of UNRWA's mandate is determined primarily by resolutions of the General Assembly; unlike other UN agencies, such as the [[World Health Organization]] or the Office of the [[UN High Commissioner for Refugees]], it lacks a constitution or statute.<ref name=":1" /> The mandate may also be shaped by requests from other UN organs, such as the Secretary-General.<ref name=":1" /> The General Assembly passes a series of resolutions annually that address UNRWA's responsibilities, functions, and budget. As it is technically a temporary organisation,<ref name=":1" /> the agency's mandate is extended every three years.<ref name="reuters13Dec19">{{cite news |date=13 December 2019 |title=In face of U.S. opposition, U.N. renews agency helping Palestinian refugees |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-palestinians-refugees/in-face-of-u-s-opposition-u-n-renews-agency-helping-palestinian-refugees-idUSKBN1YH1XW |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213184239/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-palestinians-refugees/in-face-of-u-s-opposition-u-n-renews-agency-helping-palestinian-refugees-idUSKBN1YH1XW |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Frequently asked questions|url=https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=10 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210040754/https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions|url-status=live}}</ref>

UNRWA is led by a Commissioner-General—since 8 March 2020 Philippe Lazzarini of Switzerland—an [[Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations|Under-Secretary-General of the UN]] responsible for managing all of the agency's activities and personnel.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=UNRWA Commissioner-General|url=https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/our-leadership/unrwa-commissioner-general|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201153622/https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/our-leadership/unrwa-commissioner-general|url-status=live}}</ref> The Commissioner-General selects and appoints all the agency's staff, pursuant to internal rules and regulations, and reports directly to the General Assembly.<ref name=":1" /> UNRWA's operations are organised into five fields—Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, West Bank, and Gaza—each led by a director who is in charge of distributing humanitarian aid and overseeing general UNRWA operations. The agency's headquarters are divided between the Gaza Strip and [[Amman]], with the latter hosting the Deputy Commissioner-General, currently Leni Stenseth of Norway, who administers departmental activities such as education, healthcare, and finance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LENI STENSETH APPOINTED DEPUTY COMMISSIONER-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/leni-stenseth-appointed-deputy-commissioner-general-united-nations-relief|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809184335/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/leni-stenseth-appointed-deputy-commissioner-general-united-nations-relief|url-status=live}}</ref> UNRWA is the largest agency of the United Nations, employing over 30,000 staff, 99% of which are locally recruited Palestinians.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-08-11 |url=http://www.un.org/unrwa/publications/pdf/uif-june04.pdf |access-date=2023-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811175024/http://www.un.org/unrwa/publications/pdf/uif-june04.pdf |title=UNRWA in Figures |archive-date=11 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |website=www.unrwa.org |url=https://www.unrwa.org/user/login |url-access=registration |access-date=2023-04-10 |title=Please Login UNRWA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813014158/https://www.unrwa.org/user/login |archive-date=2014-08-13 |url-status=live |publisher=UNRWA}}</ref> {{Update inline|date=January 2024}}

=== Advisory Commission ===
Concurrent with the creation of UNRWA, the UN General Assembly established an Advisory Commission (AdCom) to assist the Commissioner-General in carrying out UNRWA's mandate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Assistance to Palestine refugees |url=http://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/302%20%28IV%29.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084650/http://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/302%20%28IV%29.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=2023-04-10}}</ref> Created with four members, the AdCom currently has 28 members and four observers. Membership is obtained via General Assembly resolutions, with all host countries of Palestinian refugees (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon) sitting on the commission followed by the 24 leading donors and supporters of UNRWA. [[Palestine]], the [[European Union]], and the [[League of Arab States]] have had observer status since 2005, with the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|Organisation for Islamic Cooperation]] joining as an observer in 2019.<ref name="unrwa.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/overview_of_members_and_observers_of_the_advisory_commission_-_january_2020.pdf|title=Members of the Advisory Commission – UNRWA}}</ref>

Members of the AdCom, including the year they joined, are: Australia (2005), Belgium (1953), Brazil (2014), Canada (2005), Denmark (2005), Egypt (1949), Finland (2008), France (1949), Germany (2005), Ireland (2008), Italy (2005), Japan (1973), Jordan (1949), Kazakhstan (2013), Kuwait (2010), Lebanon (1953), Luxembourg (2012), Netherlands (2005), Norway (2005), Qatar (2018), Saudi Arabia (2005), Spain (2005), Sweden (2005), Switzerland (2005), Syria (1949), Turkey (1949), United Arab Emirates (2014), the United Kingdom (1949), and the United States (1949).<ref name="unrwa.org" />

The Advisory Commission is led by a chair and a vice-chair, representing a host country and a donor country, respectively. Each is appointed annually in June from among the Commission members according to the alphabetical rotation, serving for one year beginning 1 July.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Officers of the Advisory Commission|url=https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/advisory-commission/officers|access-date=2020-08-17|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805163552/https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/advisory-commission/officers|url-status=live}}</ref> At each appointment, the chair will alternate between a host and a donor country.<ref name=":5" />

The AdCom meets twice a year, usually in June and November, to discuss important issues of UNRWA and develop a consensus-based guidance for the Commissioner-General.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/advisory-commission|title=Advisory Commission|website=UNRWA|access-date=17 August 2020|archive-date=17 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817184413/https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/advisory-commission|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, members and observers convene more regularly through sub-committee meetings.<ref name=":6" /> The AdCom also conducts periodic field visits to UNRWA's area of operations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Field Visits|url=https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/advisory-commission/field-visits|access-date=2020-08-17|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805165658/https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/advisory-commission/field-visits|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Areas of operation===
UNRWA services are available to all registered Palestine refugees living in its area of operations who need assistance. When UNRWA began operations in 1950, it was responding to the needs of about 700,000 Palestinian refugees. By 2023, some 5.9&nbsp;million people were registered as eligible for UNRWA services.<ref>{{cite web|title=Palestine Refugees|url=http://www.unrwa.org/palestine-refugees|access-date=2014-08-15|publisher=United Nations|archive-date=14 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514193835/https://www.unrwa.org/palestine-refugees|url-status=live}}</ref> UNRWA provides facilities in 59 recognized [[Palestine refugee camps|refugee camps]] in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and in other areas where large numbers of registered Palestine refugees live outside of recognized camps.

For a camp to be recognized by UNRWA, there must be an agreement between the host government and UNRWA governing the use of the camp. UNRWA does not itself run camps, has no police powers or administrative role, but simply provides services in the camp. Refugee camps, which developed from [[tent cities]] to dense urban dwellings similar to their urban surroundings, house around one-third of all registered Palestine refugees.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==Funding==
[[File:2022 UNRWA funding.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|2022 UNRWA funding by country in US dollars
{| width=100%
|-
| valign=top |
{{Legend|#00008a|Over $100,000,000}}
{{Legend|#003c00|Over $50,000,000}}
{{Legend|#008f00|Over $25,000,000}}
{{Legend|#00f900|Over $10,000,000}}
| valign=top |
{{Legend|#b3ff00|Over $5,000,000}}
{{Legend|#ffff00|Over $1,000,000}}
{{Legend|#ffd215|Under $1,000,000}}
{{Legend|#b9b9b9|No donations}}
|}
]]
UNRWA's budget is set by the UN General Assembly and derives almost entirely from voluntary contributions by UN member states. It also receives some revenue from the regular UN budget, mostly for international staffing costs.<ref name="WhoWeAre2">{{cite web|title=Who We Are - UNRWA|url=http://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are|access-date=8 January 2014|publisher=[[United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East|UNRWA]]|archive-date=20 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920022714/http://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition to its regular budget, UNRWA receives funding for emergency activities and special projects, such as in response to the [[Syrian civil war]] and the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Donor Resource|url=https://www.unrwa.org/donor_resource|access-date=2020-08-10|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814003513/https://www.unrwa.org/donor_resource|url-status=live}}</ref>

Historically, most of the agency's funds came from the United States and the [[European Commission]];<ref>{{cite web|last=UNRWA|title=Frequently Asked Questions|url=http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=87#funding|access-date=2011-09-25|archive-date=6 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906121016/http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=87#funding|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="unrwa22">{{cite web|last=Bulbul|first=Sadallah|date=19 March 2014|title=TOP 20 DONORS TO UNRWA IN 2013|url=http://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/top_20_donors_overall.pdf|access-date=2014-09-14|archive-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806115607/http://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/Top_20_donors_overall.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Lazar |title=Palestinian kids taught to hate Israel in UN-funded camps, clip shows |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-kids-taught-to-hate-israel-in-un-funded-camps-clip-shows/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704094020/http://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-kids-taught-to-hate-israel-in-un-funded-camps-clip-shows/ |archive-date=4 July 2018 |access-date=15 August 2013 |website=[[Times of Israel]]}}</ref> in 2019, close to 60 percent of its pledge of $1 billion came from [[Member state of the European Union|EU countries]], with Germany being the largest individual donor.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Government Partners|url=https://www.unrwa.org/our-partners/government-partners|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918105903/https://www.unrwa.org/our-partners/government-partners|url-status=live}}</ref> The next largest donors were the EU, United Kingdom, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates,<ref name=":2" /> followed by Saudi Arabia, France, Japan, Qatar, and the Netherlands.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web|last=UNRWA|title=Financial updates|url=http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=246|access-date=2011-09-25|archive-date=13 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013034753/http://unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=246|url-status=live}}</ref> UNRWA also establishes partnerships with nongovernmental donors, including nonprofit "national committees" based in donor countries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Private Partners|url=https://www.unrwa.org/our-partners/private-partners|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805170131/https://www.unrwa.org/our-partners/private-partners|url-status=live}}</ref>

The voluntary nature of UNRWA funding has led to budgetary problems due to acute emergencies or political developments in donor countries.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|title=Statement of UNRWA Commissioner-General to the Virtual Advisory Commission|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/statement-unrwa-commissioner-general-virtual-advisory-commission|date=1 July 2020|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813084439/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/statement-unrwa-commissioner-general-virtual-advisory-commission|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, officials spoke of a "dire financial crisis", including a funding shortfall of $200 million, in the wake of the [[Gaza War (2008–2009)|Israeli offensive]] in Gaza.<ref name="ahram2">{{cite web|date=2009-04-09|title='Sounds worrying' |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/942/re63.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327011540/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/942/re63.htm|archive-date=27 March 2013|access-date=2014-08-14|work=Al-Ahram Weekly}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2009-11-17|title=Employees of UN agency for Palestinian refugees on strike|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/employees-un-agency-palestinian-refugees-strike|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813233638/http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/employees-un-agency-palestinian-refugees-strike|archive-date=13 August 2014|access-date=2014-08-14|via=Relief Web |publisher=AFP }}</ref> In August 2018, the U.S. ceased its contributions, arguing that UNRWA's mandate should be reduced to the few hundred thousand Palestinians alive when the agency was created.<ref name="UScuts2">{{Cite news |last1=DeYoung |first1=Karen |last2=Eglash |first2=Ruth |date=2018-08-31 |title=U.S. ends aid to United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-aid-cuts-wont-end-the-right-of-return-palestinians-say/2018/08/31/8e3f25b4-ad0c-11e8-8a0c-70b618c98d3c_story.html |access-date=2 September 2018 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=2 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902021405/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-aid-cuts-wont-end-the-right-of-return-palestinians-say/2018/08/31/8e3f25b4-ad0c-11e8-8a0c-70b618c98d3c_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The U.S. decision resulted in the loss of $300 million out of the $1.2 billion budget, contributing to an overall deficit of $446 million.<ref name=":3" /> The shortfall was covered with increased contributions from elsewhere.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|date=29 January 2019|title=UN agency eyes $1.2 bn budget for Palestinians despite US cuts|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190129-un-agency-eyes-12-bn-budget-palestinians-despite-us-cuts|access-date=22 April 2019|publisher=France24|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423143937/https://www.france24.com/en/20190129-un-agency-eyes-12-bn-budget-palestinians-despite-us-cuts|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Secretary Blinken Meets With UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini - 53308739161.jpg|thumb|UNRWA Commissioner-General [[Philippe Lazzarini]] with US Secretary [[Antony Blinken]] in Amman, Jordan, 4 November 2023]]
In mid-2019, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland temporarily suspended funding to UNRWA, citing ethics report that alleged mismanagement, corruption, and discrimination among the agency's leadership.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Netherlands, Switzerland suspend UNRWA funding over ethics report|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/netherlands-switzerland-suspend-unrwa-funding-ethics-report-190731074050968.html|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.aljazeera.com|archive-date=17 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917062916/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/netherlands-switzerland-suspend-unrwa-funding-ethics-report-190731074050968.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2019, the Netherlands restored its funding, increasing its donation by €6 million for 2019, to €19 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/netherlands-resumes-funding-unrwa-despite-alleged-abuses-610552|title=Netherlands resumes funding UNRWA despite alleged abuses|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com|date=11 December 2019|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=21 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521045132/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/netherlands-resumes-funding-unrwa-despite-alleged-abuses-610552|url-status=live}}</ref> The EU increased its contribution from €82 million ($92.2 million) by €21 million ($23.3 million), and Germany agreed to fund four new UNRWA projects, totaling €59 million ($65.6 million).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/eu-and-germany-pledge-additional-funding-to-unrwa-610880|title=EU and Germany pledge additional funding to UNRWA|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com|date=14 December 2019|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927031855/https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/EU-and-Germany-pledge-additional-funding-to-UNRWA-610880|url-status=live}}</ref> Qatar increased its donation for Palestinians in Syria by $20.7 million, bringing the 2019 total to $40 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/qatar-donates-further-207-million-to-palestinians-in-syria-611058|title=Qatar donates further $20.7 million to Palestinians in Syria|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com|date=16 December 2019|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927043757/https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Qatar-donates-further-207-million-to-Palestinians-in-Syria-611058|url-status=live}}</ref>

The funding situation for 2019 and beyond was discussed in April at a "Ministerial Strategic Dialogue" attended by representatives from Egypt, France, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, United Kingdom, the European External Action Service, and the European Commission.<ref>{{cite web|date=12 April 2019|title=Communiqué Ministerial Strategic Dialogue on UNRWA|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/communiqu%C3%A9-ministerial-strategic-dialogue-unrwa|access-date=22 April 2019|publisher=UNRWA|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423144828/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/communiqu%25C3%25A9-ministerial-strategic-dialogue-unrwa|url-status=live}}</ref> At the annual meeting of the General Assembly that year, a high-level ministerial meeting was held regarding UNRWA funding.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 September 2019|title=MINISTERIAL MEETING ON UNRWA|url=https://www.un.org/pga/74/2019/09/26/ministerial-meeting-on-unrwa/|access-date=1 November 2019|website=UN|archive-date=4 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104182938/https://www.un.org/pga/74/2019/09/26/ministerial-meeting-on-unrwa/|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2020 Commissioner-General Lazzarini warned that UNRWA's budget was "not sustainable", with shortfalls in four out of the five previous years, and funding at its lowest point since 2012.<ref name="auto1"/> According to the [[World Bank]], for all countries receiving more than $2&nbsp;billion in international aid in 2012, Gaza and the West Bank received a per capita aid budget over double the next largest recipient, at a rate of $495.<ref name="bank3">{{cite web|date=2014-08-15|title=Net official development assistance (ODA) per capita for countries receiving over $2 billion in 2012, latest World Bank figures published in 2014|url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/DT.ODA.ODAT.PC.ZS/countries/1W-PS-CF-ET-CI-AF?display=graph|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085719/http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/DT.ODA.ODAT.PC.ZS/countries/1W-PS-CF-ET-CI-AF?display=graph|archive-date=19 August 2014|access-date=2014-08-15|work=World Bank}}</ref><ref name="bank22">{{cite web|date=2014-08-15|title=World Development Indicators: Aid dependency Table of all countries|url=http://wdi.worldbank.org/table/6.11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810055226/http://wdi.worldbank.org/table/6.11|archive-date=10 August 2014|access-date=2014-08-15|work=World Bank}}</ref>

In January 2010, the [[Government of Canada]] announced that it was redirecting aid previously earmarked to UNRWA to projects under the [[Palestinian Authority]]. Previously, Canada provided UNRWA with 11 percent of its budget at $10&nbsp;million (Canadian) annually.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 January 2010 |title=Canada redirecting Palestinian aid from UNRWA |url=http://jta.org/news/article/2010/01/14/1010179/canada-redirecting-palestinian-aid-from-unrwa |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117050332/http://jta.org/news/article/2010/01/14/1010179/canada-redirecting-palestinian-aid-from-unrwa |archive-date=17 January 2010 |access-date=2010-01-14 |publisher=JTA}}</ref> The decision came despite positive internal evaluations of the Agency by [[Canadian International Development Agency|CIDA]] officials.<ref>" [http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/un-05-12-2010 UN Palestinian refugee agency got passing grade from CIDA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308152258/http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/un-05-12-2010|date=8 March 2012}}," ''Embassy Magazine'', 12 May 2010.</ref> The 2010 Canadian decision put it very much at odds with the US and EU, which maintained or increased their levels of funding. Some suggested that the decision also cost Canada international support in its failed October 2010 effort to obtain a seat on the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]].<ref>Collum Lynch, "[http://turtlebay.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/10/18/blame_canada Blame Canada!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225102838/http://turtlebay.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/10/18/blame_canada|date=25 December 2010}}" ''Foreign Policy'', 18 October 2010.</ref> Documents obtained from CIDA revealed that even the government of Israel opposed the Canadian move which had asked Canada to resume contributions to UNRWA's General Fund.<ref>{{cite web |last=Berthiaume |first=Lee |date=6 July 2011 |title=Israel asked Canada to reverse decision on funding for UN Palestinian refugee agency |url=http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/israel-07-06-2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323100811/http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/israel-07-06-2011 |archive-date=23 March 2012 |access-date=2011-07-30 |work=Embassy Magazine}}</ref>

EU suspended funding for UNRWA in January 2024 but reinstated the funding later on March 1, 2024.<ref name=":10" /> In 2024, the [[National Council (Switzerland)|Swiss National Council]] voted to cut finding to UNWRA, citing concerns of antisemitism and connections to terrorism; the legislation will need to pass [[Council of States (Switzerland)|Council of States]] to go into effect.<ref>{{cite news |last=Merlin |first=Ohad |date=10 September 2024 |title=Switzerland moves to cut UNRWA funding amid terror, antisemitism claims |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/article-819585 |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=Jerusalem Post}}</ref>

==Operations==
UNRWA provides a wide variety of social and humanitarian services, as determined by resolutions of the UN General Assembly. Since its initial establishment in 1949, its operations have expanded beyond immediate relief and social services; as of 2019, the bulk of its budget is spent on education (58 percent), followed by health care (15 percent), and general support services (13 percent).<ref>{{Cite web|title=How We Spend Funds|url=https://www.unrwa.org/how-you-can-help/how-we-spend-funds|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=17 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217092243/https://www.unrwa.org/how-you-can-help/how-we-spend-funds|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Education programme ===
Education is UNRWA's largest area of activity, accounting for more than half its regular budget and the majority of its staff.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Education|url=https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805170547/https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education|url-status=live}}</ref> It operates one of the largest school systems in the Middle East, spanning 711 elementary and preparatory schools, eight vocational and technical schools, and two teacher training institutes.<ref name=":4" /><ref>[http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education From UNRWAs page and sub-pages about its educational programmes and sub-pages ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902043535/http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education |date=2 September 2014 }}; no update date shown, accessed 2014-08-25. [http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/knowledge-and-skills Within the pages on education programmes, UNRWA tells about special knowledge and skills] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719215937/http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/knowledge-and-skills |date=19 July 2014 }}; no update date shown, accessed 2014-08-25</ref> It has been the main provider of basic education to Palestinian refugee children since 1950. Free basic education is available to all registered refugee children, currently numbering 526,000.<ref name=":4"/> In the 1960s, UNRWA schools became the first in the region to achieve full gender equality,<ref>{{Cite web|title=gender equity|url=https://www.unrwa.org/content/gender-equity|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225102653/https://www.unrwa.org/content/gender-equity|url-status=live}}</ref> and a slight majority of enrolled students are female.<ref name=":4" />

Half the Palestine refugee population is under 25. Overcrowded classrooms containing 40 or even 50 pupils are common. Almost three-quarters run on a double-shift system, where two separate groups of pupils and teachers share the same buildings, thus reducing teaching time. The school year is often interrupted by conflicts, prompting UNRWA to develop a special programme that provides education in emergency situations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Education in emergencies|url=https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education-emergencies|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728165846/https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education-emergencies|url-status=live}}</ref>

Per the longstanding agreement, UNRWA schools follow the curriculum of their host countries. This allows UNRWA pupils to progress to further education or employment holding locally recognised qualifications and complies with the sovereignty requirements of countries hosting refugees. Wherever possible, UNRWA students take national exams conducted by the host governments.

===Relief and social services programme===
UNRWA provides food aid, cash assistance, and help with shelter repairs to these families. In addition, children from special hardship case families are given preferential access to the Agency's vocational training centres, while women in such families are encouraged to join UNRWA's women's programme centres. In these centres, training, advice, and childcare are available to encourage female refugees' social development. In Palestinian refugee society, families without a male head of household are often vulnerable. Those headed by a widow, a divorcee, or a disabled father often live in dire poverty.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/relief-social-services|title=Relief & Social Services|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414205940/https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/relief-social-services|url-status=live}}</ref> These families are considered "hardship cases" and constitute less than 6% of UNRWA beneficiaries.

UNRWA has created community-based organizations (CBOs) to target women, refugees with disabilities, and to look after the needs of children. The CBOs now have their own management committees staffed by volunteers from the community. UNRWA provides them with technical and small sums of targeted financial assistance, but many have formed links of their own with local and international NGOs.

===Health program===
Since 1950, UNRWA has been the main healthcare provider for Palestinian refugees.<ref>[http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/health From UNRWAs page and sub-pages about health services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901133851/http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/health |date=1 September 2014 }}; no update date shown, accessed 2014-08-25</ref> Basic health needs are met through a network of primary care clinics, providing access to secondary treatment in hospitals, food aid to vulnerable groups, and environmental health in refugee camps.

Key figures for 2014 are:
* 139 primary health facilities based in or near UNRWA settlements/camps
* 3,107 health staff
* 3,134,732 refugees accessing health services
* 9,290,197 annual patient visits

The health of Palestine refugees has long resembled that of many populations in the transition from [[developing world]] to [[developed world]] status. However, there is now a demographic transition.

<blockquote>People are living longer and developing different needs, particularly those related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and chronic conditions that require lifelong care, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. A healthy life is a continuum of phases from infancy to old age, each of which has unique, specific needs, and our programme therefore takes a 'life-cycle approach' to providing its package of preventive and curative health services.

To address the changing needs of Palestine refugees, we undertook a major reform initiative in 2011. We introduced the Family Health Team (FHT) approach, based on the [[World Health Organization]]-indicated values of primary health care, in our primary health facilities (PHFs).

The FHT offers comprehensive primary health care services based on wholistic care of the entire family, emphasizing long-term provider-patient relationships and ensuring person-centeredness, comprehensiveness, and continuity. Moreover, the FHT helps address intersectional issues that impact health, such as diet and physical activity, education, gender-based violence, child protection, poverty, and community development.</blockquote>

Medical services include outpatient care, dental treatment, and rehabilitation for the physically disabled. Maternal and child healthcare is a priority for UNRWA's health program. School health teams and camp medical officers visit UNRWA schools to examine new pupils to aid early detection of childhood diseases. All UNRWA clinics offer family planning services with counselling that emphasises the importance of birth spacing as a factor in maternal and child health. Agency clinics also supervise the provision of food aid to nursing and pregnant mothers who need it, and six clinics in the Gaza Strip have their own maternity units. Infant mortality rates have for some time been lower among refugees than the [[World Health Organization]]'s benchmark for the developing world.

UNRWA provides refugees with assistance in meeting the costs of hospitalisation either by partially reimbursing them, or by negotiating contracts with government, NGOs, and private hospitals. UNRWA's environmental health services program "controls the quality of drinking water, provides sanitation, and carries out vector and rodent control in refugee camps, thus reducing the risk of epidemics."

===Microfinance Department===
UNRWA's [[Microfinance]] Department (MD) aims to alleviate poverty and support economic development in the refugee community by providing capital investment and working capital loans at commercial rates. The programme seeks to be as close to self-supporting as possible. It has a strong record of creating employment, generating income, and empowering refugees.

The MD is an autonomous financial unit within UNRWA, established in 1991 to provide microfinance services to Palestine refugees, as well as poor or marginal groups living and working in close proximity to them. With operations in three countries, the MD currently has the broadest regional coverage of any microfinance institution in the Middle East. Having begun its operations in the Palestinian territories, it remains the largest non-bank financial intermediary in the West Bank and Gaza.

Key figures, cumulative as of 2023 are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=What we do - Microfinance |url=https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/microfinance |website=UNRWA - united nations relied and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east |access-date=3 February 2024 |archive-date=10 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010235409/https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/microfinance |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 29,000 number of loans awarded
* US$531.41 million value of loans awarded
* 25% youth outreach
* 48% women outreach

===Emergency operations===
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}
UNRWA takes a wide variety of actions to mitigate the effects of emergencies on the lives of Palestine refugees. Particularly in the [[West Bank]] and the Gaza Strip (occupied Palestinian territory) there has been ongoing intervention made necessary by, e.g., the 1967 War as well as the [[First Intifada|first]] and [[Second Intifada|second]] intifadas, and the 2014 Gaza War. The reconstruction work at [[Nahr el-Bared]] Palestine refugee camp in Lebanon has been the largest reconstruction project ever undertaken by UNRWA. This work began in 2009 and was made necessary when the camp was destroyed in the fighting between the Lebanese Armed Forces and [[Fatah al-Islam]] in 2007.

Services range from supplying temporary shelter, water, food, clothing, and blankets to temporary job-creation and help for rebuilding. There is extensive cooperation with other international NGOs and local actors.

===Infrastructure and camp/settlement improvement===
As of 2023, there are [[Palestinian refugee camps|58 official refugee camps]] for Palestininans, of which nine are undergoing active improvement.<ref name="UNRWA 2023 report">{{cite report|title=Annual operational report, 2023 |url=https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/aor_2023_-_english_-_final.pdf |website=UNRWA |publisher=UN |date=2024|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>{{rp|62}} 6 million refugees were registered with UNRWA,<ref name="UNRWA 2023 report" />{{rp|5}} with 1.37 million in Gaza using a UNRWA camp.<ref name="UNRWA 2023 report" />{{rp|12}} The camps are neither owned nor administered by the Agency; host governments are responsible for allocating land (mostly of which is privately owned) and providing security and order.<ref>[https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions Frequently asked questions – Who Owns The Land The Camps Are Built On?] | UNRWA</ref> Rather, UNRWA is responsible for operating education, health, relief and social services, microfinance, and emergency assistance programmes, some of which may be located outside the camps.<ref>[https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions Frequently asked questions – Does UNRWA Run The Refugee Camps?] | UNRWA</ref>

However, as the camps have gradually transformed from temporary [[Tent city|"tent" cities]] to semi-permanent and dense urban environments, UNRWA has characterized them as "hyper-congested" and "overcrowded" with "critically substandard and in many cases life-threatening" infrastructure.<ref name="WhatWeDo">[https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/infrastructure-camp-improvement What We Do - Infrastructure & Camp Improvement] | UNRWA</ref> In response, in 2007 the Agency launched the Infrastructure and Camp Improvement Programme (ICIP) to improve spatial and environmental conditions through comprehensive urban planning methods and community engagement.<ref name="WhatWeDo" /> ICIP is implemented differently in each host country based on local needs, resources, and priorities, albeit with a broader focus on rehabilitating or reconstructing existing shelters, building new housing or service centers, providing maintenance, and improving public infrastructure such as sanitation and water drainage.

Following the destruction of much of the [[Nahr al-Bared refugee camp]] in northern Lebanon in 2007, resulting from months of fighting between Fatah al-Islam militants and the Lebanese Armed Forces,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-08 |title=Revisited - The challenge of rebuilding Lebanon's Nahr al-Bared refugee camp |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190208-revisited-challenge-rebuilding-lebanon-nahr-al-bared-palestinian-refugee-camp-unrwa |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> UNRWA led the initiative to rebuild the camp, in what has become the largest project in its history.<ref>[https://www.unrwa.org/content/fighting-breaks-out-nahr-el-bared Fighting breaks out in Nahr el-Bared] | UNRWA</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What We Do - Infrastructure & Camp Improvement |url=https://www.unrwa.org/department-infrastructure-and-camp-improvement-amman |website=UNRWA}}</ref> As of April 2021, nearly two-thirds (72 percent) of the camp has been reconstructed, including 386 shops and businesses, enabling 3,550 families to return.<ref>[https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon/nahr-el-bared-camp Nahr el-Bared Camp] | UNRWA</ref> Special funding has been provided by Saudi Arabia, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates.<ref>[https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/saudi-arabia-donates-us-10-million-nahr-el-bared Saudi Arabia donates US$ 10 million for Nahr el-Bared] | UNRWA</ref>

== Assessment and praise ==
UNRWA has received praise from Nobel Peace laureates [[Mairéad Corrigan Maguire]]<ref>{{cite web|date=25 February 2007|title=UNRWA: news: open letters|url=https://www.un.org/unrwa/news/letters/NobelPeaceLaureate_oct06.html|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225094459/http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/letters/NobelPeaceLaureate_oct06.html|archive-date=25 February 2007}}</ref> and [[Kofi Annan]],<ref>{{cite web|date=10 August 2007|title=UNRWA: news: open letters|url=https://www.un.org/unrwa/news/letters/sg-14march05.html|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810224720/http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/letters/sg-14march05.html|archive-date=10 August 2007}}</ref> the president of the UN General Assembly,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20001204.ga9841.doc.html|title=DONOR COUNTRIES PLEDGE $38.5 MILLION TO UNRWA'S REGULAR BUDGET, $22 MILLION TO EMERGENCY APPEAL – Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814184711/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20001204.ga9841.doc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> former UN Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]],<ref>{{cite web|date=6 May 2008|title=Lives of millions of Palestinians would be worse off without refugee agency, says Secretary-General at exhibit to welcome 'Friends of UNRWA' Association|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lives-millions-palestinians-would-be-worse-without-refugee-agency-says-secretary|access-date=11 April 2017|archive-date=11 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411135728/http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lives-millions-palestinians-would-be-worse-without-refugee-agency-says-secretary|url-status=live}}</ref> and representatives from the European Union,<ref>{{cite web|title=クレジットカードの現金化|url=http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_286_en.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327182038/http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_286_en.htm|archive-date=27 March 2012}}</ref> the United States,<ref name="un.org2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/gaspd222.doc.htm|title=ISRAELI RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON PALESTINE RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY CRITICIZED BY SPEAKERS IN FOURTH COMMITTEE – Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814185300/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/gaspd222.doc.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Netherlands]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Netherlands Support UNRWA Community Centre in Syria|url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/87A4AB62FAFAEA5785257513004D92F8|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814180313/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/87A4AB62FAFAEA5785257513004D92F8|archive-date=14 August 2014|access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)- Summary record of the 21st meeting held at Headquarters, New York, on Tuesday, 2 November 2004, at 2 :30&nbsp;p.m.|url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/092B0D942493820685256FCE0073F4A9|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814192124/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/092B0D942493820685256FCE0073F4A9|archive-date=14 August 2014|access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> [[Bangladesh]],<ref>{{cite web|date=11 May 2009|title=Could I begin by expressing our appreciation for Mr|url=http://www.un.int/bangladesh/statements/57/unrwa.htm|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511100455/http://www.un.int/bangladesh/statements/57/unrwa.htm|archive-date=11 May 2009}}</ref> [[Cyprus]],<ref>{{cite web|title=FOURTH COMMITTEE – UNRWA|url=http://www.kypros.org/UN/james.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220174844/http://kypros.org/UN/james.htm|archive-date=20 February 2008|access-date=22 February 2008}}</ref> [[Jordan]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Carim.org -|url=http://www.carim.org/public/polsoctexts/PS2JOR016_EN.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111161416/http://www.carim.org/public/polsoctexts/PS2JOR016_EN.pdf|archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref> [[Ghana]], and [[Norway]], among others. In 2007, the permanent representative of Norway to the United Nations described his country as a "strong supporter" of UNRWA, which acts as "a safety net" for the Palestine refugees, providing them with "immediate relief, basic services and the possibility of a life in dignity".<ref>{{cite web|date=21 November 2007|url=http://www.norway.org.ps/Press%20Release/UNRWA.htm|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121203158/http://www.norway.org.ps/Press%2BRelease/UNRWA.htm|archive-date=21 November 2007|title=UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 62nd SESSION, 4th COMMITTEE – UNRWA. (Norway - the Official Site in the Palestinian Territory) }}</ref> The same day, the representative of [[Iceland]] praised the agency's ability to "deliver substantial results" despite "often life-threatening conditions".<ref>{{cite web |title=UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES FACES DEMANDS 'FROM ALL SIDES' AGAINST BACKDROP OF ENDEMIC CRISES IN OCCUPIED TERRITORY, FOURTH COMMITTEE TOLD |url=https://press.un.org/en/2007/gaspd387.doc.htm |publisher=United Nations |access-date=2 February 2024 |date=7 November 2007 |archive-date=2 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202061348/https://press.un.org/en/2007/gaspd387.doc.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2007, Israel expressed its continued support for UNRWA, noting that despite "concerns regarding the politicization" of the agency, the country supports its humanitarian mission.<ref>[http://www.eyeontheun.org/assets/attachments/documents/5769.pdf United Nations – 62nd Session of the General Assembly. Statement by Mr Gershon Kedar.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118220709/http://www.eyeontheun.org/assets/attachments/documents/5769.pdf|date=18 January 2012}}  New York, 7 November 2007.</ref><!--dead link http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.nsf/5ba47a5c6cef541b802563e000493b8c/473add74e745a73885256ee6006c37c2!OpenDocument-->

On 17 January 2024, [[United States Department of State|US State Department]] spokesperson [[Matthew Miller (spokesperson)|Matthew Miller]] rejected calls to defund UNRWA, saying:<blockquote>UNRWA has done and continues to do invaluable work to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza at great personal risk to UNRWA members. I believe it’s over 100 UNRWA staff members have been killed doing this lifesaving work, and we continue to not only support it but we continue to commend them for the really heroic efforts that they make oftentimes while making the greatest sacrifice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grim |first1=Ryan |title=What Are We Doing?? |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/01/29/unrwa-funding-genocide-israel/ |work=The Intercept |date=29 January 2024 |access-date=3 February 2024 |archive-date=3 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203221749/https://theintercept.com/2024/01/29/unrwa-funding-genocide-israel/ |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

=== Independent evaluations ===
In 2011, UNRWA agreed to be assessed by the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN), a network of donor countries established to determine the organisational effectiveness of multilateral organisations.<ref name="mopanonline3">{{cite web|last=Arsenault|first=Mariane|date=14 December 2011|title=MOPAN 2011 Assessment of UNRWA|url=http://www.mopanonline.org/upload/documents/MOPAN_Common_Approach_-_UNRWA_Report_2011_Part_1.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724143501/http://www.mopanonline.org/upload/documents/MOPAN_Common_Approach_-_UNRWA_Report_2011_Part_1.pdf|archive-date=24 July 2013|access-date=2014-09-14}}</ref> Based on four dimensions of organisational effectiveness—strategic management, operational management, relationship management, and knowledge management—MOPAN concluded that the agency performs adequately or well in most key indicators, particularly within strategic management.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mopanonline.org/upload/documents/MOPAN_Common_Approach_-_UNRWA_Report_2011_Part_1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724143501/http://www.mopanonline.org/upload/documents/MOPAN_Common_Approach_-_UNRWA_Report_2011_Part_1.pdf|url-status=dead|title=For more information on MOPAN and to access previous MOPAN reports, please visit the MOPAN website|archive-date=24 July 2013}}</ref> UNRWA responded to the result positively, noting that "many of the challenges highlighted in the report reflect challenges within most, if not all, multilateral organisations."<ref name="mopanonline22">{{cite web|title=MOPAN Publications|url=http://www.mopanonline.org/publications/item/67|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826133836/http://www.mopanonline.org/publications/item/67|archive-date=26 August 2014|access-date=2014-09-14|publisher=mopanonline.org}}</ref> In its most recent assessment in 2019, MOPAN commended UNRWA for continuing to increase the efficiency of its programmes, recognizing the agency as "competent, resilient and resolute".<ref>{{Cite web |last=United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East |date=10 June 2019 |title=UNRWA Is "Competent, Resilient and Resolute" Says Independent Expert Report |url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-%E2%80%9Ccompetent-resilient-and-resolute%E2%80%9D-says-independent-expert-report |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613120008/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-%E2%80%9Ccompetent-resilient-and-resolute%E2%80%9D-says-independent-expert-report |archive-date=13 June 2019 |access-date=28 January 2024 |website=UNRWA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=MOPAN {{!}} Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network|url=http://www.mopanonline.org/assessments/unrwa2017-18/|access-date=2020-08-09|website=MOPAN {{!}} Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network|archive-date=29 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229204741/http://www.mopanonline.org/assessments/unrwa2017-18/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Criticism and controversies==
In 2004, [[Emanuel Marx]] and Nitza Nachmias pointed out that many criticisms of the agency corresponded to its age, "including symptoms of inflexibility, resistance to adjust to the changing political environment, and refusal to phase out and transfer its responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority".<ref name=":11">{{cite journal|last1=Marx|first1=Emanuel|author-link1=Emanuel Marx|last2=Nachmias|first2=Nitza|date=2004-06-15|title=Dilemmas of Prolonged Humanitarian Aid Operations: The Case of UNRWA (UN Relief and Work Agency for the Palestinian Refugees)|url=http://sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/834|url-status=dead|journal=Journal of Humanitarian Assistance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814103021/http://sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/834|archive-date=14 August 2014|access-date=2014-08-03}}</ref>

In 2007, UNRWA initiated a reform program to improve efficiency.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reforming UNRWA|url=http://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/reforming-unrwa|access-date=2014-09-07|website=UNRWA|archive-date=18 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818195314/http://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/reforming-unrwa|url-status=live}}</ref> However, an internal ethics report leaked to ''[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]'' in 2019 alleged that, since 2015, the agency's senior management have consolidated power at the expense of efficiency, leading to widespread misconduct, nepotism, and other abuses of power among high ranking personnel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Ian |date=29 July 2019 |title=Ethics report accuses UNRWA leadership of abuse of power |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/ethics-report-accuses-unrwa-leadership-abuse-power-190726114701787.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001120925/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/7/29/ethics-report-accuses-unrwa-leadership-of-abuse-of-power |archive-date=1 October 2020 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|aljazeera.com]]}}</ref> Responding to the ''Al Jazeera'' report, UNRWA issued a statement that both internal and external assessments of its management have been "positive":<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>A recent report by an external group of experts (MOPAN) [Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network] has just shown satisfactory (and at times very satisfactory) results of UNRWA's management and impact - which is particularly important for us during these times of intense political and financial pressure on the agency ... Similarly, the United Nations Board of Auditors recognized the quality of the management and leadership of UNRWA. Finally, the 2018 annual report recently presented by UNRWA's Department of Internal Oversight Services and Ethics Division - both independent bodies - to UNRWA's Advisory Commission (host countries and largest donors) confirmed these positive assessments. These reports testify to the strength of this Agency and are a matter of public record.</blockquote>

===Mandate===

Some critics of UNRWA have argued that it serves to perpetuate the conflict.<ref>Lefkovitz, Etgar. [http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull "US congressmen demand UNRWA reform."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916223046/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1211872830830 |date=16 September 2011 }} ''[[Jerusalem Post]]''. 27 May 2008. 3 March 2009.</ref><ref>[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/1216594201.html?dids=1216594201:1216594201&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+12%2C+2007&author=&pub=Jerusalem+Post&edition=&startpage=13&desc=Perpetuating+refugees "Perpetuating refugees."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019154307/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/1216594201.html?dids=1216594201:1216594201&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+12,+2007&author=&pub=Jerusalem+Post&edition=&startpage=13&desc=Perpetuating+refugees |date=19 October 2012 }} [[ProQuest]] Archiver. 12 February 2007. 3 March 2009.</ref><ref>[[Jonathan Spyer|Spyer, Jonathan]]. [http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/perspectives44.html "UNRWA: Barrier to Peace."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217054035/http://biu.ac.il/soc/besa/perspectives44.html |date=17 February 2009 }} [[Bar-Ilan University]]. 27 May 2008. 1 March 2009. "Due to this special status, the UNRWA perpetuates, rather than resolves, the Palestinian refugee issue, and therefore serves as a major obstacle toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://cnpublications.net/2008/08/06/unrwa-needs-major-reform/|author=Berkowitz, Peter|title=UNRWA Needs Major Reform|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=6 August 2008|quote=This enables UNRWA to fuel the conflict with Israel by cultivating a trans-generational belief among Palestinians that the one-and-only solution to their plight consists of returning to homes and lands vacated more than half a century ago.|access-date=4 August 2012|archive-date=8 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708225657/http://cnpublications.net/2008/08/06/unrwa-needs-major-reform/|url-status=live}}</ref> Although UNRWA's mandate is only for relief works,<ref name="UNRWA relief and works only">{{cite web |url=http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=87#beneficiaries |title=Frequently asked questions |publisher=UNRWA |access-date=2011-10-29 |author=UNRWA |archive-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906121016/http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=87#beneficiaries |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal Europe]]'', published an [[op-ed]] by [[Asaf Romirowsky]] and [[Alexander H. Joffe]] in April 2011 saying that "it is hard to claim that the UNRWA has created any Palestinian institutions that foster genuinely civil society. Ideally, the UNRWA would be disbanded and Palestinians given the freedom – and the responsibility – to build their own society."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romirowsky.com/9019/defund-the-unrwa|title=Defund the UNRWA|first1=Asaf|last1=Romirowsky|first2=Alexander|last2=Joffe|access-date=3 April 2011|archive-date=2 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402170028/http://www.romirowsky.com/9019/defund-the-unrwa|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{see also|Palestinian right of return}}
The UNHCR is mandated to help refugees get on with their lives as quickly as possible and works to settle them rapidly, most frequently in countries other than those they fled. UNRWA policy, however, states that the Palestinian Arabs who fled from Israel in the course of the 1948 war, plus ''all of their descendants'', are to be considered refugees until a just and durable solution can be found by political actors. UNRWA was specifically designed ''not'' to prescribe how the outcome of an agreement would take shape.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/210086/fatal-approach-arlene-kushner?target=author&tid=901475|title=Fatal Approach &#124; National Review Online|publisher=nationalreview.com|date=2004-03-30|access-date=2 September 2016|archive-date=14 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914071534/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/210086/fatal-approach-arlene-kushner?target=author&tid=901475|url-status=live}}</ref>

James G. Lindsay, a former UNRWA general counsel and fellow researcher for [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]], published a report for in 2009 in which he criticized UNRWA practices.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep27794 |title=Seventy Years to UNRWA—Time for Structural and Functional Reforms |last1=Michael |first1=Kobi |last2=Hatuel-Radoshitzky |first2=Michal |date=2020 |publisher=Institute for National Security Studies |access-date=6 March 2024 |archive-date=25 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425133138/https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep27794 |url-status=live }}</ref> One of his conclusions was that UNRWA's failure to match the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR's]] success in resettling refugees "obviously represents a political decision on the part of the agency" and "seems to favor the strain of Palestinian political thought espoused by those who are intent on a 'return' to the land that is now Israel".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lindsay |first=James G. |date=January 2009 |title=Fixing UNRWA: Repairing the UN's Troubled System of Aid to Palestinian Refugees |journal=Policy Focus (Washington Institute for Near East Policy) |volume=91 |issue=2}}</ref>

===Operations===

====Protection of Palestinian refugees====

Asem Khalil, Associate Professor of Law at [[Birzeit University]] and dean of the Faculty of Law and Public Administration, has focused on human rights issues for Palestinians in host countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Palestinian Refugees in Arab States: A Rights-Based Approach." Asem Khalil|work=European University Institute, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, CARIM Research Reports 2009/08|access-date=2014-08-29|url=http://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/10792|archive-date=8 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208140227/http://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/10792|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Socioeconomic Rights of Refugees: The Case of Palestinian Refugees in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria." Asem Khalil|publisher=American University in Cairo, Center for Migration and Refugees Studies Regional Research|year=2010|access-date=2014-08-29|url=http://www.aucegypt.edu/gapp/cmrs/reports/documents/khalil.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923180310/http://www.aucegypt.edu/gapp/cmrs/reports/documents/khalil.pdf|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> After systematically documenting the human rights situation for Palestinians in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, he concludes:<ref name="auto" />

<blockquote>The point this approach is stresses, I believe, is not that UNRWA is not necessary or that Palestinian refugeehood is not unique and special, but rather that UNRWA is not currently capable of ensuring necessary protection for Palestinian refugees, and that host [[Arab world|Arab states]] cannot use the uniqueness of Palestinian refugeehood to continue upholding discriminatory laws and policies towards Palestinian refugees. ...

The global financial crisis may result in decreasing international funds to UNRWA, and UNRWA may be pushed towards reducing its services. Such a scenario will be felt by Palestinian refugees in particular ways, seeing the absence of alternative sources of income and the restrictive laws and policies that exist in some host countries. UNRWA is a main service provider for Palestinian refugees in host countries. It provides jobs for thousands of refugees, education, health care, and various other services that are extremely valuable and necessary.

... The issue at stake here is that UNRWA is not enough, but the alternative is not the replacement of UNRWA by
[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]], rather the enhancement of the protection role of UNRWA, or the extension of protection mandate of UNHCR
to Palestinian refugees besides (not instead) existing agencies dealing with Palestinian refugees ...
</blockquote>

====Textbook controversy====
{{Main|Textbooks in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict}}
In 2005 Nathan Brown, Professor of Political Science at [[George Washington University]], wrote a short but comprehensive review article about textbooks used by Palestinians, focusing especially on changes starting in 1994.
<blockquote>The [[Oslo Accords|Oslo agreements]] resulted in the dismantling of the Israeli office responsible for censorship of textbooks. Administration of the education system for all Palestinian students in the West Bank and Gaza was taken over by the Palestinian Authority. Other Palestinian schools administered by UNRWA in neighboring countries were unaffected. With the end of UNESCO monitoring of the books, UNRWA moved to develop supplementary materials to teach tolerance in the schools it administered.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Nathan J.|title=Textbooks, use by Palestinians. In Mattar, Phillip, ed. Encyclopedia of the Palestinians, Revised Edition. New York: Facts on File, Inc.|year=2005|url=http://www.fofweb.com/History/MainPrintPage.asp?iPin=EPAL316&DataType=WorldHistory&WinType=Free|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903150033/http://www.fofweb.com/History/MainPrintPage.asp?iPin=EPAL316&DataType=WorldHistory&WinType=Free|url-status=live}}</ref>
</blockquote>

It is the PA textbooks used in UNRWA schools in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem that have been most extensively studied. The following discussions cannot be generalized to UNRWA schools elsewhere. In the beginning, the PA used books from Jordan and Egypt. In 2000 it started issuing its own books. Brown has pointed out that research into Palestinian textbooks conducted by the [[Centre for Monitoring the Impact of Peace]] in 1998 is misleading because it evaluates the old books; and in 2000, its research mixed old and new books.<ref name="pcdc.edu.ps" /> Brown investigated the differences between the new PA books and the ones being replaced.<ref name="pcdc.edu.ps">[http://www.pcdc.edu.ps/brown_research_summary.htm Getting Beyond the Rhetoric about the Palestinian Curriculum Summary of Research on Palestinian Textbooks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415032604/http://www.pcdc.edu.ps/brown_research_summary.htm |date=15 April 2012 }}. By Nathan J. Brown, 1 January 2002.</ref>

Regarding the Palestinian Authority's new textbooks, he states:

<blockquote>The new books have removed the anti-Semitism present in the older books while they tell history from a Palestinian point of view, they do not seek to erase Israel, delegitimize, it or replace it with the "[[State of Palestine]]"; each book contains a foreword describing the West Bank and Gaza as "the two parts of the homeland"; the maps show some awkwardness but do sometimes indicate the [[Green Line (Israel)|1967 line]] and take some other measures to avoid indicating borders; in this respect they are actually more forthcoming than Israeli maps; the books avoid treating Israel at length but do indeed mention it by name; the new books must be seen as a tremendous improvement from a Jewish, Israeli, and humanitarian view; they do not compare unfavorably to the material my son was given as a fourth-grade student in a school in Tel Aviv".</blockquote>

In 2002, the [[United States Congress]] requested the [[United States Department of State]] to commission a reputable NGO to conduct a review of the new Palestinian curriculum. The [[Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information]] (IPCRI) was thereby commissioned by the US Embassy in [[Tel Aviv]] and the US Consul General in [[Jerusalem]] to review the textbooks. Its report was completed in March 2003 and delivered to the State Department for submission to Congress. Its executive summary states: "The overall orientation of the curriculum is [[peace education|peaceful]] despite the harsh and violent realities on the ground. It does not openly incite against Israel and the Jews. It does not openly incite hatred and violence. Religious and political tolerance is emphasized in a good number of textbooks and in multiple contexts."

IPCRI's June 2004 follow-up report notes that "except for calls for resisting occupation and oppression, no signs were detected of outright promotion of hatred towards Israel, Judaism, or Zionism" and that "tolerance, as a concept, runs across the new textbooks". The report also stated that "textbooks revealed numerous instances that introduce and promote the universal and religious values and concepts of respect of other cultures, religions, and ethnic groups, peace, human rights, freedom of speech, justice, compassion, diversity, plurality, tolerance, respect of law, and environmental awareness".

However, the IPCRI noted a number of deficiencies in the curriculum.

<blockquote>The practice of 'appropriating' sites, areas, localities, geographic regions, etc. inside the territory of the [[State of Israel]] as Palestine/Palestinian observed in our previous review, remains a feature of the newly published textbooks (4th and 9th Grade) laying substantive grounds to the contention that the Palestinian Authority did not in fact recognize Israel as the State of the Jewish people. ...</blockquote>

The summary also states that the curriculum asserts a historical Arab presence in the region, while:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipcri.org/files/4&9report.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051016221049/http://www.ipcri.org/files/4%269report.pdf|url-status=usurped|title=Analysis and Evaluation of the New Palestinian Curriculum; Reviewing Palestinian Textbooks and Tolerance Education Program Grades 4 & 9|archive-date=16 October 2005}}</ref>
<blockquote>The Jewish connection to the region, in general, and the [[Holy Land]], in particular, is virtually missing. This lack of reference is perceived as tantamount to a denial of such a connection, although no direct evidence is found for such a denial." It also notes that "terms and passages used to describe some historical events are sometimes offensive in nature and could be construed as reflecting hatred of and discrimination against Jews and Judaism."
</blockquote>

The US State Department has similarly raised concerns about the content of [[Textbooks in the Palestinian territories#2009 US State Department's Human Rights report|textbooks used in PA schools]]. In its 2009 Human Rights report, the US Department of State wrote that after a 2006 revision of textbooks by the PA Ministry of Education and Higher Education, international academics concluded that books did not incite violence against Jews but showed imbalance, bias, and inaccuracy. The examples given were similar to those given by IPCRI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/nea/136070.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315154816/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/nea/136070.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-03-15|title=Israel and the occupied territories}}</ref>

In 2013 the results of a rigorous study, which also compared Israeli textbooks to PA textbooks, came out. The study was launched by the [[Munib Younan|Council for Religious Institutions in the Holy Land]], an interfaith association of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders in Israel and the Occupied Territories. The study was overseen by an international Scientific Advisory Panel and funded by the US State Department<ref>[http://www.crihl.org/content/israeli-palestinian-schoolbook-project Israeli-Palestinian schoolbook Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204092622/http://www.crihl.org/content/israeli-palestinian-schoolbook-project |date=4 February 2013 }}, Council of the Religious Institutions of the Holy Land, 2009.</ref> The Council published a report "Victims of Our Own Narratives? Portrayal of the 'Other' in Israeli and Palestinian School Books".<ref name="Ziri">Danielle Ziri, [http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=302102 "Textbooks show both sides to blame for enmity"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304221219/http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=302102 |date=4 March 2013 }}, ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'', 4 February 2013.</ref> Most books were found to be factually accurate except, for example, through presenting maps that present the area from the river to the sea as either Palestine or Israel. Israeli schoolbooks were deemed superior to Palestinian ones with regard to preparing children for peace, although various depictions of the "other" as enemy occurred in 75% of Israeli, and in 81% of Palestinian textbooks.<ref name="Ackerman">Gwen Ackerman [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-04/israeli-palestinian-textbooks-reflect-narratives-of-conflict.html 'Israeli, Palestinian Textbooks Reflect Narratives of Conflict,'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502001206/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-04/israeli-palestinian-textbooks-reflect-narratives-of-conflict.html |date=2 May 2014 }} at [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg com]], 4 February.</ref> The study praised both Israel and the Palestinian Authority for producing textbooks almost completely unblemished by "dehumanizing and demonizing characterizations of the other". Yet many troubling examples were given of both sides failing to represent each other in a positive or even adequate way. And the problem was more pronounced in PA textbooks.<ref name="Sanders">Edmund Sanders, [https://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-israeli-palestinian-textbooks-unbalanced-20130204,0,3549890.story 'Israeli and Palestinian textbooks fail balance test, study finds,'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227112539/http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-israeli-palestinian-textbooks-unbalanced-20130204,0,3549890.story |date=27 February 2013 }} at [[Los Angeles Times]], 4 February 2013</ref>
* Neutral depictions of "the other" were found in 4% of Israeli, and 15% of Palestinian textbooks.
* Overall negative or very negative representations of Palestinians occurred 49% of the time in Israeli state school books (73% in Haredi school books) and in 84% of Palestinian textbooks.<ref name="Sanders" />
* Highly negative characterizations were discerned in 26% of Israeli state school books and 50% of the Palestinian ones.<ref name="Ziri" />

All in all there seems to be broad agreement that there is continual improvement in the textbooks used by UNRWA—but very strong disagreement about whether the improvement is sufficient. In response to a critical report{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} written in 2009 by former UNRWA general counsel James G. Lindsay, fellow researcher for [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]] [[John Ging]], head of UNRWA Gaza, said: "As for our schools, we use textbooks of the Palestinian Authority. Are they perfect? No, they're not. I can't defend the indefensible."{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

UNRWA has taken many steps since 2000 to supplement the PA curriculum with concepts of human rights, nonviolent conflict resolution, and tolerance. According to the UNRWA website:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/human-rights-education |title=What we do: Human Rights Education |publisher=UNRWA |access-date=5 January 2015 |archive-date=11 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411110651/http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/human-rights-education |url-status=live }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2023}}

<blockquote>We have been delivering human rights education in our schools since 2000 to promote non-violence, healthy communication skills, peaceful conflict resolution, human rights, tolerance, and good citizenship. In May 2012, the Agency endorsed its new Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Tolerance (HRCRT) Policy to further strengthen human rights education in UNRWA. This policy builds upon past successes, but also draws from international best practices and paves the way to better integrate human rights education in all our schools. The HRCRT Policy reflects the UNRWA mandate of quality education for Palestine refugees and sets out a common approach among all UNRWA schools for the teaching and learning of human rights, conflict resolution and tolerance. The vision of the policy is to "provide human rights education that empowers Palestine refugee students to enjoy and exercise their rights, uphold human rights values, be proud of their Palestinian identity, and contribute positively to their society and the global community."</blockquote>In 2021, the Australian and Canadian governments started investigating UNRWA, and the British government found that UNRWA had produced and disseminated textbooks inciting violence. UNRWA blocked public access to its website contents in response. [[Philippe Lazzarini|Phillipe Lazzarini]] admitted to the European Parliament that the study materials in UNRWA's schools featured incitement to violence, glorification of acts of terror, and antisemitism,<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |title=How UNRWA Became the Second-most Influential Organization in Gaza After Hamas |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2023-12-12/ty-article-magazine/.premium/how-unrwa-became-the-second-most-important-organization-in-gaza/0000018c-5deb-d798-adac-fdefaf450000 |access-date=2023-12-12 |archive-date=14 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214092351/https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2023-12-12/ty-article-magazine/.premium/how-unrwa-became-the-second-most-important-organization-in-gaza/0000018c-5deb-d798-adac-fdefaf450000 |url-status=live }}</ref> but insisted that the agency takes steps to prevent the material from being taught.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNRWA Chief Challenged by EU Parliament on PA Textbooks, acknowledges antisemitism, glorification of terrorism |url=https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=cda888712516195d04c9534ec&id=9e510e8a3e |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=us13.campaign-archive.com |archive-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212222631/https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=cda888712516195d04c9534ec&id=9e510e8a3e |url-status=live }}</ref>

A review performed in 2024 names using "host-country textbooks with problematic content" as one of the issues with UNRWA's neutrality.<ref name="magramo">{{cite news |last1=Magramo |first1=Kathleen |last2=Edwards |first2=Christian |last3=Sangal |first3=Aditi |title=UNRWA neutrality must be strengthened, independent review finds |url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-22-24#h_04e164891070a0708f16b13ac2285323 |work=CNN |date=22 April 2024 |language=en |access-date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=24 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424115416/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-22-24/h_04e164891070a0708f16b13ac2285323 |url-status=live }}</ref> The review states "Three international assessments of PA textbooks in recent years have provided a nuanced picture,..Two identified presence of bias and antagonistic content, but did not provide evidence of antisemitic content. The third assessment, by the [German-based] [[Georg Eckert Institute]], studied 156 PA textbooks and identified two examples that it found to display antisemitic motifs but noted that one of them had already been removed, the other has been altered."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report|title=Israel has yet to provide evidence of Unrwa staff terrorist links, Colonna report says|first=Julian|last=Borger|date=22 April 2024|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=22 April 2024|archive-date=22 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422141150/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Relationship with Hamas====
In October 2004 UNRWA Commissioner-General [[Peter Hansen (UN)|Peter Hansen]] caused controversy in Canada when he said in an interview with [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] TV:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canada-looking-at-un-agency-over-palestinian-connection-1.506576|title=Canada looking at UN agency over Palestinian connection|access-date=1 September 2014|archive-date=9 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909005430/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canada-looking-at-un-agency-over-palestinian-connection-1.506576|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad|first1= Matthew|last1= Levitt|first2= Dennis|last2= Ross|year= 2007|publisher= Yale University Press|isbn= 9780300122589|page= 95|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CG-AjU3rraQC&pg=PA95|access-date= 2011-01-19|archive-date= 25 April 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240425133121/https://books.google.com/books?id=CG-AjU3rraQC&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status= live}}</ref>

<blockquote>Oh I am sure that there are Hamas members on the UNRWA payroll and I don't see that as a crime. Hamas as a political organization does not mean that every member is a militant and we do not do political vetting and exclude people from one persuasion as against another.

We demand of our staff, whatever their political persuasion is, that they behave in accordance with UN standards and norms for neutrality.</blockquote>

Hansen later specified that he had been referring not to active Hamas members, but to Hamas sympathizers within UNRWA. In a letter to the Agency's major donors, he said he was attempting to be honest because UNRWA has over 8,200 employees in the Gaza Strip. Given that opinion polls show 30% support of Hamas in Gaza at the time, and UNRWA's workforce of 11,000 Palestinians, at least some Hamas sympathizers were likely to be among UNRWA's employees. The important thing, he wrote, was that UNRWA's strict rules and regulations ensured that its staff remained impartial UN servants. Hansen was retired from United Nations service against his will on 31 March 2005 after the United States blocked his reappointment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4191313.stm|title=Unrwa head to go against his will|date=20 January 2005|via=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2010|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411133049/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4191313.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="icej">{{cite web|url=http://nir.icej.org/news/headlines/brief-unrwa-chief-hansen-pushed-out|title=IN BRIEF: UNRWA Chief Hansen Pushed Out &#124; ICEJ Northern Ireland|publisher=nir.icej.org|access-date=2014-09-14|archive-date=7 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907234027/http://nir.icej.org/news/headlines/brief-unrwa-chief-hansen-pushed-out|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="theguardian">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/20/usa.israel|title=Bush forces UN refugee chief to go|work=The Guardian|date=20 January 2005|access-date=2014-09-14|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305033026/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/20/usa.israel|url-status=live}}</ref>

UNRWA has come under criticism from Hamas for teaching Palestinian students Western values. According to [[Hazem Balousha]], some Hamas officials objected to UNRWA organized trips for Palestinian students to visit [[Holocaust]] remembrance sites. Hamas officials also opposed other UNRWA organized trips for Palestinian students to the US and Europe.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 April 2013 |title=Hamas Gaza Tension UNRWA |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/04/hamas-gaza-tension-unrwa.html#ixzz3AYAQUIx9 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819094747/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/04/hamas-gaza-tension-unrwa.html#ixzz3AYAQUIx9 |archive-date=19 August 2014 |access-date=2014-08-16 |publisher=al-monitor.com}}</ref> According to ''[[The Guardian]]'', Hamas has in some cases threatened UN staff in Gaza.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite news |last1=Sherwood |first1=Harriet |date=4 August 2014 |title=UN dragged into conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/04/un-dragged-conflict-israel-hamas-gaza |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119111823/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/04/un-dragged-conflict-israel-hamas-gaza |archive-date=19 January 2024 |access-date=15 September 2014 |agency=The Guardian}}</ref> [[James G. Lindsay]], a former UNRWA general counsel and affiliated with the pro-Israel [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]] published a report for WINEP in 2009 in which he said UNRWA did not take enough steps to detect and prevent members of Hamas from joining the organization.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=131264 'UNRWA staff not tested for terror ties'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918034318/http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=131264 |date=18 September 2011 }}, ''[Jerusalem Post]''.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindsey |first=James |date=2009-01-26 |title=Fixing UNRWA: Repairing the UN's Troubled System of Aid to Palestinian Refugees |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/fixing-unrwa-repairing-uns-troubled-system-aid-palestinian-refugees |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Washington Institute for Near East Policy |language=en}}</ref>

According to ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'', Hamas won a teachers union election for UN schools in Gaza in 2009.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Hamas-wins-teachers-union-elections-for-UN-schools-in-Gaza Hamas wins teachers union elections for UN schools in Gaza] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084509/http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Hamas-wins-teachers-union-elections-for-UN-schools-in-Gaza |date=19 August 2014 }}, ''Jerusalem Post'' 29 March 2009</ref> UNRWA has strongly denied this and pointed out that "Staff elections are conducted on an individual – not party list – basis for unions that handle normal labour relations – not political – issues."<ref>[http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/letter-editor-un-agency-responds LETTER TO THE EDITOR: UN AGENCY RESPONDS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715185942/http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/letter-editor-un-agency-responds |date=15 July 2015 }}, UNRWA 9 April 2009</ref> In addition, [[John Ging]], the Gaza head of operations, said in a letter dated 29 March 2009 that employees must not "be under the influence of any political party in the conduct of their work."<ref>{{cite news|title=Letter obtained by Associated Press|newspaper=Ynetnews|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3695945,00.html|date=1 April 2009|access-date=2014-08-16|archive-date=19 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819105118/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3695945,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Israeli newspaper [[Yedioth Ahronoth]] stated in 2012 that a staff union election resulted in 25 of the 27 seats going to Palestinians who were either Islamist or sympathetic towards Hamas. More than 9,500 UNRWA employees in the Gaza Strip participated; this represented more than 80% turnout. The professional list won three UNRWA workers groups: the employees', teachers', and services' unions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Landslide victory for Hamas bloc in the UNRWA staff union elections|date=18 September 2012|url=http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?_ContentType=ART&_ContentID=fa401655-e672-4a10-ae50-c8d3c51da767|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030163944/http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?_ContentType=ART&_ContentID=fa401655-e672-4a10-ae50-c8d3c51da767|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 October 2014|access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/4329-overwhelming-victory-for-islamists-in-unrwa-union-elections|title=Overwhelming Victory for Islamists in UNRWA Union Elections|date=18 September 2012|access-date=2014-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084948/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/4329-overwhelming-victory-for-islamists-in-unrwa-union-elections|archive-date=19 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the Israeli government , UNRWA employed at least 24 members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad in 24 of its schools; the majority were principals or deputy principals, and several were fighters in the [[Al-Qassam Brigades|Qassam Brigades]].  Also, Israel provided intelligence about 18 UNRWA workers it accused of participating in the [[October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel|October 7, 2023, attacks]].<ref name="g389">{{cite web |last1=Becker |first1=Jo |last2=Rasgon |first2=Adam |date=2024-12-08 |title=Records Seized by Israel Show Hamas Presence in U.N. Schools |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/08/world/middleeast/hamas-unrwa-schools.html |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

====Hamas interference====
{{See also|Hamas–UNRWA Holocaust dispute}}
It has been reported that Hamas has interfered with curriculum and textbooks in UNRWA schools.<ref name="hamas-rejects"/> For example, in 2009 it caused UNRWA to [[Hamas–UNRWA Holocaust dispute|suspend a decision]] to introduce Holocaust studies in its schools.<ref name="The Economist">{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|title=Hamas in Gaza: A proper state already|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21530173|access-date=2011-09-25|date=24 September 2011|archive-date=25 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925162427/http://www.economist.com/node/21530173|url-status=live}}</ref> One of UNRWA's flagships has been gender-equality and integration. But Hamas militants have firebombed UNRWA mixed-gender summer camps,<ref name="theguardian.com" /> and in 2013 Hamas passed a law requiring gender segregation in schools for all pupils nine years of age and older in Gaza.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/04/gaza-education-law-gender-segregation.html |title=Gaza Education Law Gender Segregation |date=4 April 2013 |access-date=2014-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724013313/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/04/gaza-education-law-gender-segregation.html |archive-date=24 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The law does not apply to UNRWA schools.

Elhanen Miller, the Arab affairs reporter for ''[[The Times of Israel]]'', wrote in February 2014 that Hamas was "bashing" UNRWA's human rights curriculum, saying that it included too many examples and values foreign to Palestinian culture and had too much emphasis on peaceful resistance rather than armed resistance. In this case UNRWA refused to be swayed. Spokesman [[Chris Gunness]] said:<ref>{{cite web |title=Hamas bashes UNRWA's human rights curriculum |work=The Times of Israel |date=2014-02-11 |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-bashes-unrwas-human-rights-corriculum |access-date=2014-09-07 |archive-date=8 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908020157/http://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-bashes-unrwas-human-rights-corriculum/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<blockquote>UNRWA has no plans to change its education programs in Gaza ... human rights are taught in all UNRWA schools from grades 1 through 9, discussing the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]].

UNRWA's education system takes as its basis the curriculum taught by the PA and so we use PA textbooks in preparing children in Gaza for public examinations. ... In addition, we enrich our education programs in Gaza with an agreed human rights curriculum which has been developed with the communities we serve: with educationalists, parents groups, teachers associations, staff members and others. We have done our utmost in developing these materials to be sensitive to local values while also being true to the universal values that underpin the work of the United Nations.
</blockquote>

However, after a few days, UNRWA consented to temporarily suspending the use of only the books used in grades 7–9 (continuing to use the books used in grades 1–6) pending further discussions.<ref name="hamas-rejects">{{cite web|title=Hamas rejects UN textbooks in Gaza schools|agency=Associated Press|work=Haaretz|date=2014-02-13|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.574208|access-date=2014-09-07|archive-date=19 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519093750/http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.574208|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Operation of summer camps====
Hamas has denounced UNRWA and Ging, accusing them of using their summer camps to corrupt the morals of Palestinian youth. Hamas also advised UNRWA to reexamine its curriculum to ensure its suitability for Palestinian society, due to the mixing of genders at the camps. In September 2011 it was reported that, under pressure from Hamas, UNRWA has made all its summer camps single-sex.<ref name="The Economist" /> Hamas has its own network of summer camps and the two organizations are regarded to be vying for influence with Gazan youth.<ref>{{cite news |title=News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (May 18–25, 2010) |date=26 May 2010 |publisher=Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center}}</ref> [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad|Islamic Jihad]] has also run summer camps since 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/06/gaza-summer-camps-children-islamic-jihad.html |title=Gaza Summer Camps Children Islamic Jihad |date=21 June 2013 |access-date=2014-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819091737/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/06/gaza-summer-camps-children-islamic-jihad.html |archive-date=19 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> UNRWA did not operate its summer camps for summer 2012 and summer 2014 due to a lack of available funding. Hamas has filled this void and now is the direct provider of summer activities for about 100,000 children and youths.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/06/palestine-hamas-summer-camps-ideology.html|title=Palestine Hamas Summer Camps Ideology|date=19 June 2014|access-date=2014-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819131702/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/06/palestine-hamas-summer-camps-ideology.html|archive-date=19 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013, UNRWA canceled its planned marathon in Gaza after Hamas rulers prohibited women from participating in the race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/un-cancels-gaza-marathon-over-hamas-ban-on-women/|title=UN cancels Gaza marathon over Hamas ban on women|first=Diaa|last=Hadid|website=www.timesofisrael.com|access-date=18 March 2013|archive-date=10 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310055227/http://www.timesofisrael.com/un-cancels-gaza-marathon-over-hamas-ban-on-women/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2013, Israeli media outlets aired a video documenting UNRWA-funded summer camps where children are being taught to engage in violence with Israelis. The video airs speakers telling campers "With God's help and our own strength we will wage war. And with education and Jihad we will return to our homes!" A student is also shown on camera describing that "the summer camp teaches us that we have to liberate Palestine."<ref name="ReferenceA"/> UNRWA denies that the video shows UNRWA summer camps and instead shows footage of camps that were not operated by UNRWA, and stated that the film was "grossly misleading" and that "the film-maker concerned has a history of making baseless claims about UNRWA, all of which we have investigated and demonstrated to be patently false." It stated that the 'summer camp' shown in the West Bank was not affiliated with or organized by UNRWA, and that footage from the camp in Gaza "revealed that absolutely nothing anti-Semitic or inflammatory was done or said".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-rejects-allegations-incitement-baseless-statement-unrwa|title=UNRWA Rejects Allegations of Incitement as Baseless: Statement by UNRWA Spokesperson Chris Gunness|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=8 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408205437/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-rejects-allegations-incitement-baseless-statement-unrwa|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Investigations and calls for accountability and reform==
Many critics of UNRWA, while generally recognizing the importance of its work and the infeasibility of disbanding it, believe it requires more transparency, oversight, and support. Writing in the ''[[Middle East Monitor]]'' in April 2012, [[Karen Koning AbuZayd]], a former Commissioner-General of the UNRWA (2005–2009), argued that "UNRWA needs support not brickbats".<ref name="middleeastmonitor">{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/guest-writers/3562-unrwa-needs-support-not-brickbats|title=UNRWA needs support not brickbats|publisher=middleeastmonitor.com|access-date=2014-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211121852/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/guest-writers/3562-unrwa-needs-support-not-brickbats|archive-date=11 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> She concluded that:

<blockquote>... even those who scrutinise [UNRWA] most closely and challenge it most severely are those who also ensure that its programmes receive adequate funding. They, like others who view the agency more positively, realise that UNRWA makes a major contribution to stability in the Middle East.
</blockquote>

Writing in the ''[[The Times of Israel|Times of Israel]]'' on 31 July 2014, [[David Horovitz]] argued that Israel had many legitimate complaints against UNRWA, including that its definition of "refugee" included the descendants of the original Palestinian refugees, that it was "closely watched by Hamas for signs that it is not sufficiently critical of Israel", and that its facilities frequently harbored Hamas operatives and their weaponry. But, he noted, while Israeli officials privately argued for its abolishment, with no other credible party able to take over the agency's duties, including administering the more than 200,000 Gazans internally displaced during the then-ongoing [[2014 Gaza War]], Israel had never "launched a no-holds-barred effort to bring UNRWA down".<ref name="timesofisrael">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-trouble-with-unrwa/|title=The trouble with UNRWA|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=2014-09-14|archive-date=12 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812205837/http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-trouble-with-unrwa/|url-status=live}}</ref> That changed after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, as Horovitz described in a January 2025 piece titled "Gaza after UNRWA". In addition to cataloguing ties between UNRWA and Hamas, including revelations of its staff's "complicity in the mass murder in Israel that caused the war and devastation in Gaza", Horovitz excoriated the agency for having "perpetuated a fundamental intolerance for the simple fact of Israel’s existence" and having "helped Hamas and by extension doomed Gaza".<ref name="TOI20250129">{{Cite news |title=The next round in Iran, Gaza after UNRWA, and a war widow's plea for the Haredi draft |author=David Horovitz |work=Times of Israel |date=2025-01-29 |access-date=4 February 2025 |url= https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-next-round-in-iran-gaza-after-unrwa-and-a-war-widows-plea-for-the-haredi-draft/ |archive-date=2025-01-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250129172004/https://www.timesofisrael.com/wherever-gazans-live-only-life-affirming-education-will-give-them-and-us-a-better-future/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Repeated calls for investigation by the United States===
The United States government financed a programme of "Operations Support Officers" whose responsibilities including undertaking random and unannounced inspections of UNRWA facilities to ensure their sanctity from militant operations. In 2004, the U.S. Congress asked the General Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate media claims that government funding given to UNRWA had been used to support individuals involved in militant activities. During its investigation, the GAO discovered several irregularities in its processing and employment history.<ref name="gao">{{cite web|url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04276r.pdf|date=17 November 2003|title=GAO-04-276R Department of State (State) and United Nations relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Actions to Implement Section 301(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961|access-date=2014-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040724093342/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04276r.pdf|archive-date=24 July 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In August 2014, several US Senators demanded an impartial investigation into UNRWA's alleged participation in the 2014 Gaza-Israel conflict, accusing UNRWA of being complicit with Hamas.<ref name="jpost">{{cite web |date=13 August 2014 |title=Senators want UNRWA investigated over 'troubling' Gaza role |url=http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Senators-want-UNRWA-investigated-over-troubling-Gaza-role-370897 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815171652/http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Senators-want-UNRWA-investigated-over-troubling-Gaza-role-370897 |archive-date=15 August 2014 |access-date=2014-09-14 |work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>

<blockquote>... While the letter does not call on the State Department to cut aid, the senators write that the American taxpayers "deserve to know if UNRWA is fulfilling its mission or taking sides in this tragic conflict."
... Responding to the letter, a [[Spokesperson for the United States Department of State|State Department spokesman]] said that the UN is taking "proactive steps to address this problem," including deploying munitions experts to the strip in search of more weapons caches.
"The international community cannot accept a situation where the United Nations – its facilities, staff, and those it is protecting – are used as shields for militants and terrorist groups," State Department spokesone Edgar Vasquez told ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]''. "We remain in intensive consultations with UN leadership about the UN's response."
...

"There are few good solutions given the exceptionally difficult situation in Gaza," Vasquez continued, "but nonetheless we are in contact with the United Nations, other UNRWA donors, and concerned parties – including Israel – on identifying better options for protecting the neutrality of UN facilities and ensuring that weapons discovered are handled appropriately and do not find their way back to Hamas or other terrorist groups."<ref>{{cite web |date=13 August 2014 |title=Senators want UNRWA investigated over 'troubling' Gaza role |url=http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Senators-want-UNRWA-investigated-over-troubling-Gaza-role-370897 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815171652/http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Senators-want-UNRWA-investigated-over-troubling-Gaza-role-370897 |archive-date=15 August 2014 |access-date=16 August 2014}}</ref></blockquote>In 2018, citing a "failure to mobilize adequate and appropriate burden sharing," the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] stopped funding UNRWA, calling its fundamental business model and fiscal practices "simply unsustainable".<ref>{{cite web |last=Nauert |first=Heather |date=31 August 2018 |title=Press Statement: On U.S. Assistance to UNRWA |url=https://2017-2021.state.gov/on-u-s-assistance-to-unrwa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425133120/https://2017-2021.state.gov/on-u-s-assistance-to-unrwa/ |archive-date=25 April 2024 |access-date=2021-04-10 |publisher=[[United States Department of State|US Department of State]]}}</ref> Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] maintained that "most Palestinians under UNRWA's jurisdiction aren't refugees, and UNRWA is a hurdle to peace."<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1349832119829233664 |user=SecPompeo |title=Taxpayers deserve basic truths: most Palestinians under UNRWA’s jurisdiction aren’t refugees, and UNRWA is a hurdle…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. --> |date=14 January 2021}}</ref> However, the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden administration]] restarted funding in April 2021<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-04-07 |title=U.S. restores assistance for Palestinians, to provide $235 million in aid |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-usa-blinken-idUSKBN2BU2XT |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112200302/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-usa-blinken-idUSKBN2BU2XT |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=2023-11-12 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> and as of 2023 has provided over $1 billion to the aid agency.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===James G. Lindsay===
On the basis of his 2009 analyses for WINEP, referred to in previous sections, former UNRWA general-counsel [[James G. Lindsay]] and fellow researcher for [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]]{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} made the following suggestions for improvement:{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} 
<blockquote>UNRWA should make the following operational changes: halt its one-sided political statements and limit itself to comments on humanitarian issues; take additional steps to ensure the agency is not employing or providing benefits to terrorists and criminals; and allow the [[UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]] (UNESCO), or some other neutral entity, to provide balanced and discrimination-free textbooks for UNRWA schools.</blockquote>

[[Andrew Whitley]], director of the UNRWA representative office at [[Headquarters of the United Nations|UN headquarters in New York]], criticized the report as biased and relying on limited sources. Additionally, he noted: "Someone reading this paper with no background would assume that the Israeli government was a benign actor. No mention is made of the [[Israeli-occupied territories|occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip]]."<ref>Natasha Mozgovaya [http://www.haaretz.com/news/ex-unrwa-official-blasts-agency-for-politicizing-palestinian-refugee-issue-1.269657 "Ex-UNRWA official blasts agency for politicizing Palestinian refugee issue"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204021837/http://www.haaretz.com/news/ex-unrwa-official-blasts-agency-for-politicizing-palestinian-refugee-issue-1.269657|date=4 December 2010}}, ''Haaretz'', 8 February 2009</ref>

UNRWA's Jerusalem spokesperson [[Chris Gunness]] stated that UNRWA rejects Lindsay's report and its findings and said that the study was inaccurate and misleading, since it "makes selective use of source material and fails to paint a truthful portrait of UNRWA and its operations today".<ref>Tovah Lazaroff
[http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=131264 "'UNRWA staff not tested for terror ties' "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918034318/http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=131264 |date=18 September 2011 }}, ''Jerusalem Post'', 31 January 2009</ref>

In response to the criticism of his report from UNRWA, Lindsay writes:

{{blockquote|Despite repeated requests from the author, the agency declined to identify the alleged weaknesses on the grounds that "our views—and understanding—of UNRWA's role, the refugees and even U.S. policy are too far apart for us to take time (time that we do not have) to enter into an exchange with little likelihood of influencing a narrative which so substantially differs from our own." Thus, the paper has not benefited from any input by UNRWA, whether a discussion of policy or even correction of alleged errors.<ref>Lindsay, ''Fixing UNRWA'', pg. 2 "For an extended description of my correspondence with UNRWA on this subject, see the epilogue following the conclusion of this paper."</ref>}}

===Reform initiative===
An initiative to reform UNRWA was announced by the Center for Near East Policy Research in March 2014.<ref name="ncp">{{cite web|url=http://press.org/events/unrwa-reform-initiative |title=Press Briefing on the UNRWA Reform Initiative |publisher=The National Press Club |date=2014-03-11 |access-date=2014-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030162806/http://www.press.org/events/unrwa-reform-initiative |archive-date=30 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The center carries out research and (through its "Israel Resource News Agency") investigative journalism and research in cooperation with a wide variety of organisations and researchers, such as [[Middle East Forum|The Middle East Forum]], which has published an entire issue of [[Middle East Quarterly]] discussing the challenges facing UNRWA.<ref name="mef">{{cite journal |url=http://www.meforum.org/3344/unrwa-special |title=Why a Special Issue on UNRWA? |journal=Middle East Forum |volume=19 |issue=4 |date=Fall 2012 |access-date=2014-08-09 |last1=Rosen |first1=Steven J. |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053540/http://www.meforum.org/3344/unrwa-special |url-status=live }}</ref>

The main thrust of the UNRWA Reform Initiative is to present documentation of problems with UNRWA to sponsor nations and organisations with the aim of increasing sponsor demands for accountability. UNRWA has stated on multiple occasions that the head of this initiative, [[David Bedein]], fabricates the information he publishes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/response-new-david-bedein-film-unrwa-spokesperson-chris-gunness|title=Response to the new David Bedein film by UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520084550/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/response-new-david-bedein-film-unrwa-spokesperson-chris-gunness|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/arutz-sheva-forced-publish-denial-over-%E2%80%9Cgroundless%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Cpolitically|title=Arutz Sheva forced to publish denial over "groundless", "politically motivated" attack on UNRWA by David Bedein|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225105719/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/arutz-sheva-forced-publish-denial-over-%E2%80%9Cgroundless%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Cpolitically|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/allegations-about-unrwa|title=Allegations about UNRWA|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419053322/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/allegations-about-unrwa|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-response-%E2%80%9C-sake-nakba%E2%80%9D-film-shown-israel%E2%80%99s-channel-1|title=UNRWA response to "For the sake of the Nakba" film shown on Israel's Channel 1|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420195854/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-response-%E2%80%9C-sake-nakba%E2%80%9D-film-shown-israel%E2%80%99s-channel-1|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== EU conditions funding 2021 ===
In September 2021, the [[European Parliament]]'s Budgetary Control Committee approved withholding 20 million Euros in aid to UNRWA if immediate changes to UNRWA's education curriculum are not made. According to the resolution, the Parliament "is concerned about the hate speech and violence taught in Palestinian school textbooks and used in schools by UNRWA... [and] insists that UNRWA acts in full transparency... to ensure that content adheres to UN values and does not encourage hatred."<ref>{{Cite news |last=TPS |date=2021-09-29 |title=EU to condition UNRWA funds on removing incitement from PA textbooks |language=en |work=Ynetnews |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjfo11fbvf |access-date=2022-05-08 |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508161003/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjfo11fbvf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Funding for UNRWA was reinstated by the EU on March 1, 2024.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Commission will proceed to paying EUR 50 million to UNRWA and increase emergency support to Palestinians by EUR 68 million in 2024 - European Commission |url=https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-will-proceed-paying-eur-50-million-unrwa-and-increase-emergency-support-palestinians-eur-2024-03-01_en |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>

==Relations with Israel==
{{main|UNRWA and Israel}}After Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza in the Six-Day War, it requested that the UNRWA continue its operations there, which it would facilitate.<ref name="meforum.org">{{cite journal |url=http://www.meforum.org/3380/israel-relations-unrwa |journal=Middle East Quarterly |title=Jerusalem's Surprisingly Good Relations with UNRWA |last=Spiegel |first=Baruch |date=2012 |access-date=2014-08-16 |archive-date=3 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203131844/https://www.meforum.org/3380/israel-relations-unrwa |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then the relationship has been characterized by [[Two-state solution|two-state]] advocate Baruch Spiegel, as "an uneasy marriage of convenience between two unlikely bedfellows that have helped perpetuate the problem both have allegedly sought to resolve."<ref name="meforum.org"/>

Immediately following the Six-Day War, on 14 June UNRWA Commissioner-General Dr. [[Laurence Michelmore]] and political advisor to the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Israeli Foreign Minister]] [[Michael Comay]] exchanged letters that has since served as much of the basis for the relationship between Israel and UNRWA.<ref name="Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/mfadocuments/yearbook1/pages/exchange%20of%20letters%20constituting%20a%20provisional%20agreement%20concerning%20assistance%20to%20palestine%20refugees.aspx|title=Exchange of letters constituting a provisional agreement concerning assistance to Palestine Refugees|publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=2015-05-14|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092102/http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/mfadocuments/yearbook1/pages/exchange%20of%20letters%20constituting%20a%20provisional%20agreement%20concerning%20assistance%20to%20palestine%20refugees.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Commonly referred to the Comay-Michelmore Exchange of Letters,<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East|url=http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/20100118134924.pdf|publisher=UNRWA|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055626/http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/20100118134924.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Comay-Michelmore – Agreement|url=http://unterm.un.org/DGAACS/unterm.nsf/8fa942046ff7601c85256983007ca4d8/c6901b955684c7ec85256c3f004743d7?OpenDocument|publisher=United Nations|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093130/http://unterm.un.org/DGAACS/unterm.nsf/8fa942046ff7601c85256983007ca4d8/c6901b955684c7ec85256c3f004743d7?OpenDocument|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> the initial letter from Michelmore reiterates a verbal conversation between the two, stating that:

<blockquote>at the request of the [[Cabinet of Israel|Israel Government]], UNRWA would continue its assistance to the Palestine refugees, with the full co-operation of the Israel authorities, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip areas. For its part, the Israel Government will facilitate the task of UNRWA to the best of its ability, subject only to regulations or arrangements which may be necessitated by considerations of military security.<ref name="Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs"/> </blockquote>

In his responding letter, Comay wrote:<ref name="Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs" />

<blockquote>I agree that your letter and this reply constitute a provisional agreement between UNRWA and the Government of Israel, to remain in force until replaced or cancelled.</blockquote>

UNRWA has been criticised by the Israeli government and politicians for alleged involvement with [[Palestinian political violence|Palestinian militant groups]], such as Hamas. Israeli media organizations have claimed that [[Peter Hansen (UN)|Peter Hansen]], UNRWA's former Commissioner-General (1996–2005) "consistently adopted a trenchant anti-Israel line" which resulted in biased and exaggerated reports against Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNRWA demands Israel apologize over Qassam accusation |url=https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/10/03/16975731.php |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Indybay |language=en |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127162624/https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/10/03/16975731.php |url-status=live }}</ref> 

===Israeli ban and ICJ case===
On 28 October 2024, the [[Knesset]] passed legislation that orders UNRWA to cease "any activity" in territories claimed by Israel within 90 days.<ref name=":7" /> The Israeli government, for its part, declared that it will terminate all collaboration, communication and contact with UNRWA beginning on January 30, 2025.<ref>[[Danny Danon]], Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, {{YouTube|ma8IpLcyUpA|"On Jan 30...UNRWA must cease its operations and evacuate all premises it operates in Jerusalem."}}, [[AIJAC]] / Jan. 28, 2025</ref> On 30 January, Israel's UNRWA ban went into effect.<ref name=":14" />

As a result of the ban on UNRWA, the [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] voted to request an advisory opinion from the ICJ regarding "Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory" in December 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wintour |first1=Patrick |title=Israel faces legal pressure at UN’s top court over Unrwa ban |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/27/israel-faces-legal-pressure-at-un-top-court-over-unrwa-blockade |website=The Guardian |access-date=28 April 2025 |date=28 April 2025}}</ref> Israel’s foreign minister, [[Gideon Sa'ar]], criticized the decision saying that "it is not Israel that should be on trial. It is the UN and Unrwa".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wintour |first1=Patrick |title=Israel seems set on destroying system of international law compliance, ICJ hears |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/28/un-is-threatened-by-israels-decision-to-cut-ties-with-relief-agency-world-court-told |website=The Guardian |access-date=28 April 2025 |date=28 April 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Politics|Palestine|Israel}}
* [[American Near East Refugee Aid]]
* [[International aid to Palestinians]]
* [[List of directors and commissioners-general of UNRWA]]
* [[Palestine and the United Nations]]
* [[Palestine Children's Relief Fund|Palestine Children’s Relief Fund]]
* [[Taylor Force Act]]
* [[United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite web |url=https://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/2010011791015.pdf|title=The United Nations and Palestinian Refugees| author= UNRWA |author2= UNHCR |author-link= UNRWA |author-link2= UNHCR |year=2007}}
* {{cite web|url=https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/DPI2499.pdf|title=The Question of Palestine and the United Nations|author=UNDPI|author-link=United Nations Department of Public Information|publisher=DPI/2499|year=2008|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=27 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127054819/https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/DPI2499.pdf|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/exploding-myths-unrwa-unhcr-and-palestine-refugees|title= Exploding the myths: UNRWA, UNHCR and the Palestine refugees|year=2011|last= Gunness|first= Chris|author-link= Chris Gunness|publisher=Ma'an News Agency}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
* {{Official website}} {{in_lang|en|ar}}
* {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060529233649/http://unrwa.un.org.sy|date= 2006-05-29 |title= UNRWA in Syria}}
* [https://www.unrwausa.org UNRWA USA National Committee]
* [https://www.unrwa.es UNRWA Spanish Committee] {{in_lang|es}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040622201700/http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/mepp/prrn/prdocs.html |date=2004-06-22|title= Collection of relevant documents}}
* {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040724093342/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04276r.pdf |date=2004-07-24|title= United States GAO report on UNRWA (PDF)}}
<!--* [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/484003.html Mutual hatred and distrust between Israel and UNRWA's Peter Hansen, amidst new accusation of UNRWA aiding terrorism] ([[Haaretz]]: 2 October 2004)-->
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070814193807/http://www.refugees.org/article.aspx?id=1109&rid=1179 US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants' Campaign to End Refugee Warehousing] in refugee camps around the world, people are confined to their settlement and denied their basic rights.
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/18/international/middleeast/18gaza.html?8bl Israel Feuds With Agency Set Up to Aid Palestinians] (''[[The New York Times]]'', 18 October 2004)
* {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090212142219/http://washingtoninstitute.org/templateC04.php |date= 2009-02-12 |title= Fixing UNRWA: Repairing the UN's Troubled System of Aid to Palestinian Refugees (By James G. Lindsay, Washington Institute for Near East Policy: January 2009)}}

{{United Nations}}
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{{Israeli–Palestinian conflict}}
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[[Category:UNRWA| ]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Jordan]]
[[Category:Arab–Israeli conflict]]
[[Category:History of the Palestinian refugees]]
[[Category:Human rights organizations based in Palestine]]
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[[Category:Jordan and the United Nations]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Amman]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1949]]
[[Category:Palestine and the United Nations]]
[[Category:United Nations General Assembly subsidiary organs]]
[[Category:United Nations operations in the Middle East]]
[[Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment]]