The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has strongly condemned statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in which he declared that the agency “will have no role in relief operations in the Gaza Strip.”

In a post on its official X account, UNRWA affirmed that its presence in Gaza is “essential and irreplaceable” for delivering humanitarian assistance to millions of Palestinians who depend on its services. The agency stressed that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had issued a clear ruling last week confirming that no other organization can substitute UNRWA in meeting the humanitarian needs of Gaza’s population.

“UNRWA’s presence is vital to addressing the urgent humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories,” the statement read, adding that any attempt to exclude the agency undermines international humanitarian law and the ICJ’s directives.

Rubio made his comments during a press conference at the “US-Israeli Civil-Military Coordination Center” in the Kiryat Gat settlement, asserting that “eight to ten aid organizations will operate in Gaza, but UNRWA will not be among them.” He echoed long-standing Israeli claims that the agency is “affiliated with Hamas,” a charge UNRWA and the United Nations have repeatedly denied.

However, Rubio’s remarks stand in contradiction to the ceasefire plan proposed by US President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza. Clause 8 of that proposal explicitly states that “aid distribution in the Gaza Strip will take place solely through the United Nations and its agencies, the Red Crescent, and internationally neutral organizations.”

Israel has made similar accusations against UNRWA in the past, alleging that some of its staff were involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks — allegations the agency has firmly rejected. The ICJ ruled earlier this year that Israel had provided no credible evidence to support those claims.

Rubio’s comments appear aligned with Israel’s continued efforts to prevent UNRWA’s return to Gaza, despite the ICJ’s decision reaffirming the agency’s legal and operational mandate.

Meanwhile, Israeli state broadcaster Kan quoted a government official as saying that “all UN agencies that previously worked in Gaza have failed to perform their tasks effectively.” The official added that Israel had communicated its stance to Washington, expressing hope that the US would maintain the same position.

UNRWA has warned that excluding it from Gaza’s relief efforts would further exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis, leaving millions of displaced Palestinians without food, shelter, and medical assistance amid the ongoing blockade and destruction. (ILKHA)