ICSPR Condemns the Dismissal of a Number of UNRWA Employees in the Gaza Strip
Date: June 13, 2025
Press Release
ICSPR Condemns the Dismissal of a Number of UNRWA Employees in the Gaza Strip
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) expresses its strong condemnation and categorical rejection of the decision by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to dismiss a number of its employees in the Gaza Strip based on allegations made by the Israeli occupation authorities, without the completion of any independent professional investigation and without providing fair legal and procedural guarantees that ensure the right to defense and the presumption of innocence.
ICSPR affirms that this decision constitutes a clear violation of the principles of international human rights law, particularly the principle of the presumption of innocence and the prohibition against imposing punitive measures without transparent and independent investigations, as well as the guarantee of due process rights, including the opportunity for employees to defend themselves before an impartial investigative body.
ICSPR considers that relying on information from a single source, namely the Israeli occupation authorities, without independent verification, represents a serious infringement on the administrative and professional neutrality that must be upheld within United Nations institutions. Such actions undermine the confidence of both employees and Palestine refugees in the Agency’s internal justice system.
ICSPR warns that this decision sets a dangerous precedent for the politicization of administrative decisions within a humanitarian UN agency, opening the door to the targeting of additional Palestinian employees based on unsubstantiated allegations. It further threatens the neutral humanitarian working environment that should govern UNRWA’s operations and negatively impacts the continuity of services provided to more than six million Palestine refugees.
ICSPR notes that these developments come within the context of ongoing attempts to undermine UNRWA’s mandate and weaken its historic role in serving Palestine refugees. This constitutes a direct threat to one of the most important legal and humanitarian witnesses to the Palestinian cause and the right of return.
ICSPR stresses that any disciplinary or employment-related measures within United Nations institutions must be based on independent and impartial investigations, substantiated legal evidence, and transparent procedures that guarantee the right of defense. Any departure from these standards raises serious legal and ethical concerns regarding the party responsible for such decisions.
ICSPR calls on UNRWA’s administration to immediately reverse this decision, suspend all measures resulting from it, and initiate an independent, professional, and transparent international investigation that guarantees justice and fairness for all employees without exception while safeguarding their dignity and employment and human rights.
ICSPR further calls upon the United Nations, donor states, and the international community to take urgent action to ensure the protection of UNRWA’s independence, prevent the politicization of its administrative decisions, and provide the necessary legal protection for its employees against any political, security-related, or media-driven targeting.
ICSPR emphasizes that justice cannot be administered through accusations or political pressure, but rather through evidence and sound legal procedures. Protecting UNRWA employees is an integral part of protecting the rights of Palestine refugees and preserving the integrity of the international legal system.
