[News Terms] Hamas Backer Suspicion 'UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees'

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a UN-affiliated organization established to support Palestinian refugees who lost their homes due to the First Middle East War triggered by the founding of Israel. It was created by UN General Assembly Resolution 302 in December 1949 and began operations in May 1950.

UNRWA provides education, medical care, relief, and public services to Palestinian refugees in five Middle Eastern regions: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. It has built around 700 schools in these areas to ensure refugee children receive compulsory education and supports vocational training and microloans to help refugees achieve economic self-reliance.

As clashes between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas continue to prolong, a doctor is checking the condition of a boy at a temporary clinic in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
[Photo by Xinhua/Yonhap News]

UNRWA defines Palestinian refugees as "persons who lived in Palestine between June 1, 1946, and May 15, 1948, and lost both their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 war." When UNRWA began its activities in 1950, there were 750,000 Palestinian refugees fitting this definition, and today their descendants number approximately 5.9 million.

UNRWA is the largest employer in the Gaza Strip. Among its approximately 13,000 staff members, most are Palestinians. UNRWA’s operating funds come from donations by UN member states, primarily from the United States and the European Union.

On October 7 last year (local time), Israel raised suspicions that 12 UNRWA staff members were involved in Hamas’s surprise terrorist attack. Subsequently, Fox News, a conservative American news channel, reported allegations that UNRWA has acted as a backing force for Hamas.

According to reports including those from Fox News, in 2022 the United States provided $33.7 million (approximately 45.05 billion KRW) to UNRWA, while Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Finland collectively donated $66 million (approximately 8.82 billion KRW). Switzerland contributed 20 million Swiss francs annually (about 31 billion KRW). South Korea also donated $1.75 million (approximately 2.34 billion KRW) to UNRWA last year.

A Palestinian boy with bandages on his hand is looking at the refugee camp in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, which has been reduced to ruins by Israeli airstrikes.
[Photo by Rafah AFP/ Yonhap News]

On the 26th, the US State Department announced a temporary suspension of additional funding to UNRWA, as reported by the New York Times (NYT). The following day, Australia, the UK, Canada, and Finland also announced a temporary halt to their financial support, increasing the number of countries suspending aid to UNRWA.

In response, UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres stated in a press release on the 28th, "I understand their concerns and was also shocked by the allegations raised," but strongly appealed to the governments that suspended support to "at least allow UNRWA to continue its operations."

He emphasized, "There must be consequences for the abhorrent actions of the staff members involved in the allegations," but added, "However, the majority of UNRWA staff working in one of the most dangerous humanitarian environments should not be punished." He further stressed, "The urgent needs of the Palestinian people must be met."

Regarding this, the NYT reported, "For Palestinians and their supporters, this organization remains an essential lifeline for millions of refugee descendants whose futures remain uncertain."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.