ICSPR Issues a Policy Paper Warning of the Consequences of Israel’s Continued Obstruction of UNRWA’s Work in the Gaza Strip
Date: October 27, 2025
Press Release
ICSPR Issues a Policy Paper Warning of the Consequences of Israel’s Continued Obstruction of UNRWA’s Work in the Gaza Strip
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) issued a new policy paper titled: “The Continuation of the Israeli Occupation in Obstructing the Work of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip,” prepared by researcher Lubna Deeb.
The paper provides an in-depth analytical examination of the situation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) under the ongoing Israeli aggression and blockade on the Gaza Strip. It highlights the systematic restrictions and violations that have affected UNRWA staff, facilities, and humanitarian programs, exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe faced by more than 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza.
This paper comes as part of ICSPR’s continuous efforts to shed light on the legal and humanitarian dimensions of Israel’s targeting of the humanitarian system in Gaza, particularly UNRWA, which has served as the main lifeline for Palestinian refugees since 1949. The paper analyzes Israeli policies aimed at undermining the agency’s role through blockade, financial blackmail, political defamation, restrictions on staff, and the targeting of educational and relief centers.
The paper notes that since the beginning of the recent aggression, Israel has adopted a systematic policy to weaken UNRWA as an international institution by targeting its facilities, blocking aid entry, persecuting its employees, and restricting its field operations in affected areas. Dozens of UNRWA schools and centers have been directly bombed, resulting in the killing and injury of hundreds of civilians and displaced persons inside these shelters. This has also led to the destruction of the agency’s logistical infrastructure and disrupted its ability to deliver essential education, health, and relief services.
The study further explains that Israel has used political and economic tools to weaken UNRWA by pressuring donor countries to halt or reduce funding — an attempt to dismantle the Palestinian refugee issue at its core, as UNRWA stands as the most prominent international witness to the ongoing Nakba and the refugees’ right of return. These pressures have resulted in a severe budget deficit that forced UNRWA to scale back emergency relief programs and postpone several vital projects, directly affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of impoverished Palestinian families in Gaza.
The paper warns that Israel’s continued obstruction of UNRWA’s operations constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which obliges the occupying power to protect civilians and prohibits targeting humanitarian institutions providing them with relief and assistance. It also violates UN General Assembly resolutions affirming the necessity of enabling UNRWA to carry out its duties without interference or obstruction.
Moreover, the paper points out that the disruption of UNRWA’s work goes beyond humanitarian impacts — it also threatens civil peace and social stability in Gaza, where over 70% of the population depends directly or indirectly on the agency’s services. The suspension of some programs has led to increased poverty and unemployment rates, the deterioration of health and education conditions, and a growing sense among refugees that the international community is gradually abandoning its responsibilities toward them.
The paper also highlights internal challenges facing the agency due to Israeli policies, including funding shortages, rising displacement, infrastructure collapse, and mobility restrictions hindering access to targeted groups. It examines the legal dimensions of these violations, stressing that the targeting of UNRWA is part of Israel’s broader collective punishment policy against Gaza’s civilians.
ICSPR’s paper recommends the following actions:
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Immediate international action to ensure that UNRWA can carry out its humanitarian duties without restrictions or interference from Israeli authorities.
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Securing sustainable and sufficient funding for the agency, free from political blackmail, to ensure the continuity of its relief and service programs.
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Referring the targeting of UNRWA to the International Criminal Court as a war crime and a violation of international humanitarian law.
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Urging Arab and Islamic countries to establish an emergency support fund for UNRWA to compensate for funding shortages and sustain its services in Gaza.
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Activating the UN’s role in protecting UNRWA staff and facilities and ensuring respect for its neutrality and independence.
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Launching global awareness and advocacy campaigns to expose Israel’s policies aimed at dismantling the agency and terminating its mandate.
In conclusion, the paper stresses that Israel’s continued obstruction of UNRWA’s operations represents a direct threat to the fundamental rights of Palestinian refugees and reflects a clear Israeli attempt to dismantle the international humanitarian protection framework in Gaza. ICSPR affirmed that defending UNRWA means defending refugees’ rights to life, dignity, and return, and called upon the international community to uphold its legal and moral obligations in confronting this dangerous trend.
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) concluded its paper by emphasizing that protecting UNRWA and ensuring the continuity of its humanitarian role represent both a national and international priority, as the agency remains the final safety net for millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza and beyond.
