Board of Peace Excludes UNRWA from Gaza Reconstruction, Aligning with Israeli Demands

The United States-led Board of Peace (BoP) has stated that the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) will have no role in Gaza, mirroring a long-standing Israeli goal to sideline the vital organization supporting millions of Palestinians. Tasked with overseeing the ceasefire and the territory's reconstruction, the board announced on Friday that it would partner exclusively with entities it considers reliable and capable of meeting Gaza's needs—criteria it claims UNRWA fails to satisfy.

This development follows the BoP's unveiling on Wednesday of a multibillion-dollar reconstruction plan, introduced nearly a year after a ceasefire took effect in the besieged Palestinian territory. Presented on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the initiative comes as core components of the truce remain stalled, notably the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas. Established in 1949, UNRWA was created to assist tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by Jewish militias from areas that now constitute Israel. The BoP's decision regarding the agency unfolds amid ongoing military operations and severe restrictions on humanitarian assistance in the coastal enclave.

Unveiling a 66-project reconstruction blueprint aimed at jumpstarting Gaza's recovery with a proposed $2.4bn, the BoP notably omitted UNRWA from its list of partner UN agencies. In a statement posted on X on Friday, the board maintained that its policy toward UNRWA remains unchanged, asserting that it will only engage with trusted partners who contribute to a deradicalized Strip. Nonetheless, a BoP official speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity acknowledged that board members had held multiple meetings with UNRWA officials, noting that while the agency's programs might persist if they effectively served residents, "UNRWA’s days are over." Launched earlier this year by US President Donald Trump, the BoP was designed to manage Gaza's rebuilding after nearly three years of conflict.

In an indirect response, UNRWA acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders stated on Friday that the agency remains an institution of immense humanitarian and strategic value whose capabilities are nearly impossible to replicate. Warning against disregarding these resources during deep crisis, Saunders was echoed by former UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, who cautioned on Thursday and Friday that removing the agency would generate a devastating impact on the population despite efforts by detractors to dismantle it. Employing approximately 11,000 Palestinian staff in Gaza across healthcare, education, water, and sanitation sectors, UNRWA's exclusion carries profound weight given widespread displacement and restricted aid flows.

Hamas sharply criticized the BoP's move, with spokesperson Hazem Qassem characterizing the decision on Saturday as a complete alignment with the Israeli position aimed at halting the agency's operations and undermining the right of return for Palestinian refugees. Qassem also questioned the peace council's hostile stance toward UNRWA in the absence of effective aid delivery or enforcement of the ceasefire agreement. Analysts note that the BoP's operations closely mirror Israel's vision for Gaza, reinforcing longstanding Israeli accusations that UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas—claims that an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice in October found unsubstantiated.

Regarding disarmament, Hamas and other Palestinian factions agreed in July to a phased surrender of weapons linked to gradual Israeli force withdrawals. However, following an August meeting between BoP director-general Nickolay Mladenov and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the board stipulated that Israeli troops would not pull back beyond the "Yellow Line" until Hamas fully disarms, encompassing light weapons, heavy weapons, and tunnels. Hamas insists it will not fulfill its obligations unless Israel does the same, while Israel maintains occupation over more than 60 percent of Gaza.

Article 17 of the BoP plan outlines temporary reconstruction limited to areas designated free of Hamas control, directing aid and shelter outside the group's influence while Israeli forces stay behind the "Yellow Line." Israel has concurrently barred the Palestinian technocratic committee from entering Gaza, kept crossings closed, and conditioned reconstruction on the complete disarmament of Hamas. Nearly a year after the October 2025 ceasefire, reconstruction has failed to materialize on any meaningful scale, with the Gaza Ministry of Health reporting at least 1,451 Palestinians killed and 4,953 wounded, a collapsing healthcare system, widespread destruction of infrastructure and cropland, and over 84 percent of the population—exceeding 1.76 million people—living in displacement sites or damaged shelters.