The United States-led Board of Peace (BoP) has declared that the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) will have no involvement in the reconstruction and administration of Gaza, a stance that directly aligns with a long-standing Israeli objective to marginalize the organization crucial for millions of Palestinians. The BoP, established to oversee a ceasefire and Gaza’s eventual rebuilding, stated Friday that it would exclusively collaborate with partners it deems reliable and capable of meeting the population’s needs, asserting that UNRWA does not meet these criteria.
This decision arrives as the BoP unveiled a multi-billion dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza, nearly a year after a fragile ceasefire took effect in the war-torn Palestinian territory. The proposal, presented on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), comes amidst stalled progress on key ceasefire provisions, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas.
UNRWA, founded in 1949, was created to support hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by Jewish militias during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Its continued exclusion from Gaza’s future planning occurs as the ongoing conflict devastates the coastal enclave, leaving Palestinians facing relentless attacks, severe humanitarian aid restrictions, and stalled reconstruction efforts. The BoP’s position on UNRWA raises significant questions about its alignment with Israeli objectives for the future of Gaza.
What the Board of Peace Declared
The Board of Peace introduced a blueprint for Gaza’s reconstruction, outlining 66 projects with a proposed $2.4 billion for recovery initiatives. Notably absent from the list of UN agencies identified as partners was UNRWA. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) Friday, the BoP reiterated its policy: "The Board of Peace’s policy as it relates to UNRWA’s involvement in Gaza is unchanged. We will only work with trusted partners who will deliver for the people of Gaza and contribute to a deradicalised Strip. UNRWA fails on those litmus tests."
However, a BoP official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that board members had engaged in multiple meetings with UNRWA officials. This official indicated that while UNRWA’s programs could potentially continue if they demonstrably served Gaza’s residents, the agency’s "days are over." The BoP, initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year, was conceptualized to spearhead Gaza’s reconstruction following years of conflict.
UNRWA’s Response and Concerns
In an indirect rebuttal, UNRWA’s Acting Commissioner-General, Christian Saunders, stated from Gaza on Friday, "UNRWA remains an institution of considerable humanitarian and strategic value, with capabilities and expertise that are difficult to replicate today. To disregard these capabilities at a moment of such profound need is neither logical nor responsible."
Former UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini echoed these concerns, warning Thursday that the agency’s removal would have a "devastating" impact on Palestinians. Lazzarini told AP on Friday, "They want to get rid of the agency, but on the other hand they know that if you get completely rid of the agency today, it might have a further… devastating impact on the population." He also commented on X, suggesting that "grandiose plans are what the Board of Peace does best," while highlighting the widespread suffering in Gaza amid ongoing hostilities.
UNRWA employs approximately 11,000 Palestinian staff in Gaza and remains deeply involved in providing essential healthcare, education, and water and sanitation services. Its exclusion is particularly significant given the massive displacement and persistent restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the territory. For decades, UNRWA has been a vital provider of aid and educational services to Palestinian refugees not only in Gaza and occupied East Jerusalem but also in the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Palestinians view the agency as a guarantor of their right of return, a position diametrically opposed by Israel, which seeks its dismantling.
Hamas Accuses BoP of Aligning with Israel
Hamas swiftly accused the Board of Peace of adopting Israel’s position. Spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated Saturday that the decision to exclude UNRWA represented "a complete alignment with the Zionist [Israeli] position." He asserted that the move aimed to terminate the agency’s operations, hinder aid delivery, and undermine the right of return for Palestinian refugees. Qassem described the decision as "strange for the peace council to adopt this hostile stance towards UNRWA while simultaneously failing to provide aid to Gaza or compel the occupation to abide by the ceasefire agreement and halt the daily killings of Palestinians in the Strip."
Analyzing the Board of Peace’s Alignment with Israeli Objectives
Experts suggest that the operational framework and demands of the Board of Peace closely mirror Israel’s strategic vision for Gaza and the Palestinian population. This alignment is particularly evident in three key areas: UNRWA’s role, Hamas disarmament, and reconstruction efforts.
UNRWA’s Marginalization
Israel has long advocated for UNRWA’s removal from Gaza, citing allegations of Hamas infiltration. However, the International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion last October, stated that allegations of a "significant part of UNRWA’s employees are ‘members of Hamas… or other terrorist factions’" had not been substantiated. The BoP’s stance effectively bolsters Israeli efforts to dismantle the UN agency.
Hamas Disarmament and Israeli Withdrawal
In July, Hamas and other Palestinian factions agreed to a roadmap that stipulated the phased surrender of weapons concurrent with a gradual Israeli withdrawal. These two processes were explicitly linked. However, following a meeting between Nickolay Mladenov, the BoP’s Director-General, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in August, the board stipulated that Israeli forces would not withdraw beyond the "Yellow Line" until Hamas’s complete decommissioning, including "light weapons, heavy weapons, and the tunnels alike." Hamas maintains it will not fulfill its obligations unless Israel meets its own commitments. Currently, Israel occupies over 60 percent of Gaza, with the majority of its 2.3 million inhabitants remaining displaced.
Reconstruction Conditionalities
Article 17 of the BoP’s reconstruction plan calls for "temporary reconstruction" to commence in areas designated as free from Hamas control, including humanitarian compounds for unarmed civilians. This proposed system would channel reconstruction, aid, and shelter towards areas outside Hamas’s influence while Israeli forces remain positioned behind the "Yellow Line." Yet, Israel has refused to permit the Palestinian technocratic committee access to Gaza, open crossings, or begin reconstruction until Hamas is fully disarmed. After presenting the reconstruction plan at the UNGA, Mladenov reiterated that the proposed plan’s implementation is contingent on Hamas’s disarmament.
The Dire Situation in Gaza
Nearly a year after the October ceasefire, meaningful reconstruction in Gaza has yet to commence, and Israeli forces continue to occupy significant portions of the Strip. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 1,451 Palestinians have been killed and 4,953 wounded in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began in October. The healthcare system is reportedly on the verge of "total collapse," with widespread shortages of fuel, medical supplies, and spare parts disrupting hospital operations and essential water and sanitation services.
The scale of destruction is immense. Over half of Gaza’s hospitals and clinics are non-functional, less than 1.5 percent of arable land is accessible and undamaged, and reconstruction needs are estimated to be as high as $71.5 billion. The United Nations reports that approximately 84 percent of Gaza’s population, exceeding 1.76 million people, are living in displacement sites or inadequate and damaged shelters. The ongoing conflict and the international community’s approach to its resolution continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, leaving millions of Palestinians in a precarious state with little prospect for immediate relief or long-term stability.
