UNRWA Exclusion From Gaza Reconstruction Raises Fears for Refugee Rights

The exclusion of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from Gaza reconstruction arrangements raises concerns over the future of services for millions of refugees and the standing of their rights.

At the heart of the issue is a distinction between legal authority and practical influence. The Peace Council has no legal power to end UNRWA’s mandate, but excluding the agency from reconstruction could obstruct its work without formally changing its status.

That prospect makes the agency’s role in rebuilding Gaza more than an administrative question. Arrangements that sideline UNRWA could threaten services on which refugees depend, even while its mandate remains in place.

The concern also extends beyond service delivery. Marginalising UNRWA risks weakening the place of the Palestinian refugee issue in decisions about Gaza’s future and diminishing attention to refugees’ rights.

Whether the Peace Council reverses course remains the central question. Preserving UNRWA’s mandate on paper would offer limited protection if reconstruction arrangements leave it unable to carry out its work in practice.