Hamas Condemns Board of Peace Over UNRWA Exclusion From Gaza

Hamas has condemned the US-created Board of Peace for refusing to work with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused the board of adopting a position aligned with Israel by seeking to end UNRWA’s operations in Gaza, restrict humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and undermine the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.

The Board of Peace said on Friday that UNRWA’s involvement in Gaza remained unchanged but stated that it would work only with what it described as “trusted partners” capable of delivering assistance and contributing to the “deradicalization” of Gaza.

Qassem criticised the position, saying the board had failed to provide sufficient humanitarian assistance to Gaza or ensure compliance with the ceasefire agreement.

UNRWA, established in 1949, has for decades provided education, healthcare and humanitarian services to Palestinian refugees. Palestinians regard the agency as an important institution in preserving their rights, while Israel has repeatedly called for its dismantling.

According to The Associated Press, members of the Board of Peace have privately held discussions with UNRWA officials despite publicly excluding the agency from a list of organisations identified as partners.

A Board official told AP that UNRWA programmes could continue if they benefited Gaza’s population, but maintained that the agency’s role was coming to an end.

Former UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said members of the Palestinian technocratic committee appointed to govern Gaza wanted to cooperate with the agency. He also accused the Board of Peace of failing to deliver on its responsibilities and called for Gaza’s crossings to be opened and humanitarian supplies to be allowed into the territory on a large scale.

Meanwhile, violence has continued in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health said seven Palestinians had been killed across the Gaza Strip during the previous 48 hours, including one person who later died from earlier injuries.

Palestinian reports said Israeli forces killed a Palestinian in Jabalia, while a drone strike near Joulis Street and al-Nouri Tower in the Nuseirat refugee camp killed another person and wounded several others.

Other Israeli strikes and artillery fire were reported in al-Mawasi and Khan Younis, while several Palestinians, including children, were reportedly wounded.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces raided Birzeit University in Ramallah while students were taking final examinations. Arrests and home raids were also reported in Tulkarem and other areas.

The developments come amid continued international debate over the future of humanitarian assistance and governance in Gaza.