UNRWA, the primary aid organization for Palestinian refugees, has come under heavy political pressure—facing withdrawal of funds, a ban imposed by Israel’s Parliament, and a barrage of misinformation. These actions undermine its humanitarian mission at a time when marginalized communities urgently rely on its services.

An analysis in Mondoweiss details how Gaza’s aid distribution has been reconfigured into a militarized, privatized system that bypasses established channels like UNRWA. While the system has been deliberately undermined by external pressures aiming to control the Palestinian population, UNRWA continues to serve as a critical humanitarian organization dedicated to supporting Palestinian refugees.

A Times of Israel report alleges that UNRWA textbooks used in Gaza promote incitement by glorifying jihad and martyrdom while erasing the existence of Israel, which the report claims has contributed to radicalization and violent behavior linked to the October 7 attacks.

Amid accusations from Israel against UNRWA workers and subsequent suspension of funds by 16 donors, UNRWA faces a critical funding shortfall that threatens its essential health, education, and social services for Palestinian refugees in Jordan and elsewhere. Some donors have resumed funding, but the overall financial situation remains precarious, potentially undermining crucial support for marginalized communities.

A recent report by IMPACT-se details how UNRWA, while not developing its own curriculum, supplements host country curricula with material alleged to glorify terrorism and extremist violence. The report documents examples of UNRWA staff publicly endorsing violent actions and praises of terrorist assaults, raising concerns over the propagation of extremist ideologies that contradict UN values and principles of peaceful coexistence.

A report by IMPACT-se reveals that during the 2023–24 academic year, at least 12 UNRWA school administrators, including principals and deputies, have documented ties to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The report further highlights the use of curricula that glorify violence, incite anti-Semitism, and deny Israel’s existence, raising serious concerns over political indoctrination in UNRWA’s educational framework.

A Simon Wiesenthal Center report accuses UNRWA of using educational materials that glorify violence, erase Israel from maps, and incorporate extremist narratives. The report alleges that some educators are affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, compromising neutrality and fueling hate.

Multiple international donors pledged significant contributions to UNRWA's 2023 budget during a General Assembly meeting, aiming to stabilize its financial situation and ensure continued provision of education, healthcare, and social services for Palestinian refugees amid a looming funding crisis.

A Human Rights Watch report reveals that UN agencies operating in Syria, including those similar to UNRWA, are using procurement practices that lack robust human rights due diligence, leading to contracts with suppliers linked to abusive entities and authoritarian actors.

A Human Rights Watch report highlights concerns over the procurement practices of UN agencies in Syria, including UNRWA. The report criticizes the reliance on UN sanctions lists as a substitute for thorough human rights due diligence, raising risks of inadvertently financing entities associated with human rights abuses.