Fresh Israeli Strikes Claim Lives in Gaza as UNRWA Faces Funding Crisis
Gaza City – New israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip have resulted in at least four deaths announced by local authorities today, as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) urgently calls for renewed funding and a mandate extension amidst intense scrutiny and operational challenges.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini defended the agency’s work during a meeting in Amman, responding to virulent criticism from israel, which accuses UNRWA of bias and harboring Hamas agents. A recent international inquiry identified “issues related to neutrality” within the organization but found Israel‘s primary accusation lacked conclusive evidence.
Lazzarini emphasized the “essential” need for a mandate renewal, reflecting “the massive solidarity of people around the world,” coupled with “adequate funding” and a “clear delimitation” of UNRWA’s role. ”To do otherwise woudl jeopardize the rights, lives and future of millions of Palestinian refugees,” he insisted.
The agency faces a projected deficit of $200 million (173.4 million euros) between the final quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026,exacerbated by what Lazzarini described as “malicious disinformation” that has stifled funding and tarnished the agency’s reputation.
Despite the challenges, UNRWA remains active in the Gaza Strip, where 380 of its colleagues have been killed and more than 300 of its buildings damaged or destroyed. Member states will vote on the renewal of UNRWA’s mandate in committee this Wednesday at UN headquarters in New York, with a plenary session vote scheduled for December.
Established in 1949, UNRWA provides essential services – including education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid – to Palestinian refugees and their descendants in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The agency’s continued operation is critical for the well-being of millions, particularly in the context of ongoing conflict and displacement.
