The UNRWA Affairs Department of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) stated that the statement attributed to the «Peace Council,» claiming that «there is no place for UNRWA in the new Gaza,» sends a negative message to the Palestinian people, particularly Palestinian refugees, regarding the Council›s intentions and future approach toward the Palestinian cause.
The Department stressed that this position exceeds the mandate granted to the Council by the United Nations Security Council, which is limited to managing the transitional phase in the Gaza Strip and overseeing the implementation of the reconstruction plan and its related measures. It does not grant the Council any authority or jurisdiction over UNRWA or over any of the Palestinian national rights guaranteed under international legitimacy and United Nations resolutions.
The UNRWA Affairs Department further stated that the Peace Council›s hostile position reflects alignment with the Israeli narrative and with the campaign waged against UNRWA since the beginning of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, based on allegations that have not been substantiated. It noted that the positions expressed by the overwhelming majority of states during the most recent briefings to the Security Council and in the United Nations General Assembly reaffirm that UNRWA represents a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees and an essential pillar of regional stability, making any attempt to undermine its role or cast doubt on its future a departure from the international consensus.
The Department emphasized that UNRWA is not merely a service provider for education, healthcare, and relief assistance. Rather, it was established by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 1949, making any attempt to terminate its role before addressing the root causes of the Palestinian refugee issue a breach of international obligations, rather than a mere change in humanitarian assistance mechanisms. It added that the Peace Council›s statement comes at a time when discussions are underway in the U.S. Congress concerning UNRWA›s future, reinforcing concerns that genuine efforts are being made to use humanitarian assistance as a political tool to alter the legal and political status of Palestinian refugees.
The Department also argued that the Peace Council›s call to shift from a relief-based model to one centered on sustainable development and ending dependence on aid amounts to an attempt to promote political projects aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause under the slogans of «peace» and «development.» It noted that the Palestinian people have experienced similar promises since the Oslo Accords, the outcome of which has been more occupation, settlement expansion, destruction, forced displacement, and ethnic cleansing.
In conclusion, the UNRWA Affairs Department of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine called on the parties guaranteeing the ceasefire agreement and the national institutions within the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to declare a clear position rejecting the Peace Council›s statements concerning UNRWA and to reaffirm their commitment to the Agency›s mandate as established under United Nations General Assembly Resolution 302. The Department stressed that any attempt to undermine UNRWA or its mandate constitutes a political attack on the national rights of the Palestinian people and undermines the international community›s responsibility toward the Palestinian refugee issue.