DaysofPal- The Hamas Movement has strongly condemned recent statements of what is called the “Peace Council in Gaza,” as well as remarks by U.S. officials regarding the future of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), rejecting suggestions that the agency would have no role in what has been described as a “new Gaza.”
In a statement issued on Thursday, Hamas said that such positions align with Israeli policies aimed at undermining the agency and diminishing its role.
The group emphasized that UNRWA represents an international witness to the Palestinian refugee crisis and embodies global responsibility toward Palestinian refugees.
It noted that the agency operates under a mandate from the United Nations General Assembly, and said that any attempt to weaken or replace it constitutes a challenge to international legitimacy and an effort to erase the refugee issue.
Hamas warned against calls to suspend funding for UNRWA, reduce its mandate, or substitute it with alternative frameworks, stressing that the agency’s continued humanitarian and relief operations are essential, particularly in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The movement called on the United Nations, donor countries, and the broader international community to fulfill their responsibilities by ensuring the continuation of UNRWA’s work and protecting its mandate until a just resolution is achieved.
The controversy follows a statement published on the social media platform X by the so-called “Peace Council,” which declared that “there will be no UNRWA in the new Gaza,” a remark reportedly linked to broader political proposals concerning the future of the territory pushed by Israeli occupation.
The statement triggered widespread Palestinian criticism and concern, with various groups warning that such positions could signal attempts to sideline the refugee issue and shift focus away from political rights.
Several Palestinian factions described the remarks as aligning with Israeli policy objectives and part of a broader effort to limit the Palestinian issue to humanitarian dimensions, rather than addressing core political rights, particularly the right of return for refugees.
UNRWA has long played a central role in providing education, healthcare, and relief services to Palestinian refugees across the region, and its future remains a key point of contention in ongoing discussions about Gaza and ending the Israeli genocide.
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