GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) Hamas Movement has warned of any international body supervising the work of UNRWA as a substitute for the United Nations. It called on all international parties that have refrained from supporting UNRWA to assume their responsibilities towards “the genocide our Palestinian people are subjected to.”
Hamas said in a statement, “We have followed with concern the report issued by the committee appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, chaired by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, to review the neutrality of UNRWA. In this report, the occupation’s allegations, which attempted to distort the work of the international agency, were refuted.”
Hamas highlighted a number of concerns and risks, included in the 54-page report, which aim to undermine the work of UNRWA and establish alternative international bodies outside the United Nations to monitor and supervise it. “This is an attempt to target its political significance within the framework of malicious schemes aimed at ending its role as a political witness to the Palestinian catastrophe,” it added.
It pointed out that the report called for the establishment of an international body to oversee the work of UNRWA from outside, which in itself constitutes a clear political targeting. It paves the way for usurping the responsibility of the United Nations General Assembly and replaces the Advisory Committee of UNRWA, composed of 28 countries and 3 observer members.
Hamas has raised concerns over a recent report calling for the removal of responsibility from UNRWA staff unions in the five operational areas, alleging their bias. The Movement warned that this serious accusation could undermine the relationship between employees and management, deepen existing divisions, and interfere with the work of the international agency, which should uphold neutrality.
Hamas also criticized the report’s suggestion to form partnerships between UNRWA and other institutions as an attempt to diminish and obscure its work. Particularly troubling is the shift away from humanitarian services in the Gaza Strip without strengthening UNRWA’s role, resulting in a weakening of its provided services.
Furthermore, Hamas questioned the report’s failure to address the targeting of UNRWA facilities by the Israeli occupation forces, with 160 of its premises being attacked and 180 employees losing their lives. It also highlighted the absence of any mention of the field executions and the horrifying targeting of displaced individuals within UNRWA schools, as exemplified by the Fakhoura massacre in Jabalia and other similar incidents throughout the Israeli aggression.
Hamas expressed astonishment at the former French minister’s criticism of the educational curriculum taught by UNRWA, calling for a review of what she perceives as non-neutral topics. However, Hamas emphasized that numerous committees have already revised 157 textbooks used in UNRWA schools, modifying certain content.
Moreover, Hamas questioned the dual standards employed by the international community, allowing Ukrainian UN employees to express their opinions on the war in their country while deeming Palestinian employees biased for exercising their rights.
Hamas recalled that UNRWA was established in response to the historical aggression aimed at annihilating and displacing Palestinians from their land. It sees these double standards as another facet of the hypocrisy demonstrated by certain international parties in the ongoing genocide against Gaza, with some, unfortunately, supporting and participating in this war, particularly the position embodied by Washington and some of its allies.
Hamas renewed its call for all international parties that have refrained from supporting UNRWA to fulfill their responsibilities towards the Palestinian people, who are enduring a genocide. The Movement emphasized that any attempt to erase or diminish the significance of Jerusalem, the Nakba, or the land will only fuel further fires endangering global security and peace and preventing the achievement of peace.
