UNRWA Exclusion From Gaza Reconstruction Raises Fears for Refugee Rights

The exclusion of UNRWA from Gaza reconstruction arrangements has raised concerns over the future of services for millions of Palestinian refugees and the standing of their rights in the rebuilding process.

At the heart of the debate is the distinction between the Peace Council’s legal authority and its practical influence. The council cannot legally terminate the agency’s mandate, but it could obstruct its work by keeping it outside reconstruction arrangements.

That prospect carries consequences beyond the agency itself. Sidelining UNRWA risks disrupting services relied upon by millions of refugees, even if its mandate formally remains in place.

The dispute also concerns the place of the refugee issue in Gaza’s future. Excluding the agency could weaken the standing of that issue and the rights attached to it, rather than simply change how reconstruction is managed.

The question now is whether the Peace Council will reconsider the exclusion. Maintaining UNRWA’s legal mandate alone would offer limited protection if reconstruction arrangements leave it unable to operate effectively.