The United States is poised to deal a brutal blow to UNRWA, one of the last lifelines for the Palestinian population in Gaza. After holding back funding in January following Israel’s claims that 12 of UNRWA’s 13,000 employees cooperated with Hamas during the October 7 attacks, Washington now appears ready to withhold support at least through March of the coming year.
That freeze sits buried in a scant fourteen lines on page 1,010 of a sprawling 1,012-page budget proposal that both Republicans and Democrats have negotiated to keep U.S. accounts funded at 1.2 trillion dollars through September. The bill will be rushed through this weekend to prevent a government shutdown in the United States.
Moment of crisis
The one-year suspension of UNRWA funding by the United States, which has historically been its primary donor and contributed 370 million dollars last year, arrives at a critical moment for Palestinians in Gaza. The population faces hunger and famine as restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, imposed by Israel, deepen. Just two days ago, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, accused Israel of committing a war crime by using hunger as a warfare method.
Some countries that suspended contributions to UNRWA in January, though Israel’s accusations were not supported by public evidence, have recently signaled they will resume funding. Canada, Sweden, Australia, and Iceland have announced renewed support, while others like Spain, the European Union, and Saudi Arabia have intensified their contributions. Yet filling the gap left by the United States over the next twelve months remains a difficult task for the agency, under sustained and intensified pressure from Israel.
The ghost of Trump and the weight of the pro-Israel lobby
With presidential elections due in November in the United States and the possibility that Donald Trump could return to the White House, Washington’s contributions to UNRWA might be frozen beyond the March 2025 date noted in the budget proposal. Some Republicans have even called for ending U.S. funding to the agency or dissolving it altogether. Documents obtained by a watchdog outlet reveal that the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has been promoting this line among lawmakers.
The power of that lobby already shapes other elements of the budget deal once approved and signed by the president. It blocks, for instance, U.S. funding to the U.N. Human Rights Council unless it excludes Israel from its agenda, and it withholds funding for the International Atomic Energy Agency if the secretary of state determines that Israel’s participation rights are not being ensured. It also prevents the relocation of the U.S. embassy away from Jerusalem.
The bill also includes nearly 500 million dollars for Israel’s defense systems, supplementing the annual 3.3 billion dollars allocated to arms purchases by Tel Aviv from the United States.
Cited by many observers, the debate over UNRWA funding underscores a broader geopolitical rift, where humanitarian aid intersects with national security policy. As the current budget process moves forward, advocates warn that cutting or delaying support could destabilize relief efforts and worsen the already dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza. UNRWA has long played a key role in schooling, healthcare, and social services for Palestinian refugees, and its operation depends on predictable multilateral support to continue functioning effectively.
Role and impact of UNRWA
UNRWA, established after World War II to assist Palestinian refugees, provides essential services that many communities rely on daily. Reductions in funding threaten to disrupt these services, jeopardize access to education for thousands of refugee children, and hinder the capacity to deliver critical aid to those most in need. Factual reporting indicates a mixture of political pressures and humanitarian concerns—not all of which are easily reconciled in national budgets, yet they carry real-world consequences for vulnerable populations.
International responses and humanitarian challenges
International partners have responded by reaffirming commitments where possible, emphasizing that aid remains a critical instrument of civilian protection and resilience. Yet the political climate, marked by electoral considerations and security concerns, makes consensus difficult. The geographic and diplomatic complexities of the region require donors to balance competing priorities while ensuring that humanitarian programs can operate independently of political contestation where feasible.
A broader frame for accountability and aid effectiveness
Analysts point to the need for transparent oversight and scrupulous adherence to humanitarian principles when allocating funds. The funding choices progressed through a political process that prizes national interests, but the practical effect on aid recipients hinges on how quickly and predictably resources can reach the ground. By maintaining or adjusting support in a way that preserves the integrity and reach of UNRWA’s programs, international partners aim to mitigate the risk of a humanitarian setback in Gaza and the wider crisis in the region. Citations: UN reports, budget analyses, and policy briefs provide context for these decisions and their implications for aid effectiveness in crisis zones.
Prospects and consequences
As the budget talks evolve, the status of UNRWA funding will likely be a focal point of debate across political lines. Critics warn that delaying or reducing support could intensify pressure on humanitarian agencies and the populations they serve. Supporters argue that linking funds to rigorous oversight is essential to ensure that aid resources reach intended beneficiaries and are not diverted. The unfolding decision will shape humanitarian operations, donor engagement, and regional stability in the months ahead. This is a developing situation and one that will require close monitoring by policymakers, humanitarian workers, and communities affected by the Gaza crisis. Citations: budget summaries and policy commentaries provide ongoing updates on the fiscal trajectory and its humanitarian implications.