The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is a controversial and deeply problematic arm of the UN system, one that, many argue, should have been dismantled decades ago. Yet, it remains active, serving as a symbol of what many perceive as the UN’s persistent bias against the State of Israel.
### UNRWA’s Unique and Controversial Mandate
UNRWA is devoted exclusively to Palestinians registered as “refugees,” a designation separate and distinct from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which handles refugees worldwide. Originally established as a temporary organization to provide humanitarian relief and services to approximately 700,000 Palestinian Arabs displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, UNRWA has since evolved into a self-perpetuating bureaucracy.
Unlike UNHCR, UNRWA defines “refugee” expansively—covering generation after generation of descendants of the original refugees, indefinitely. Additionally, it maintains refugee status for Palestinians even if they have acquired citizenship elsewhere, such as in Jordan.
### Allegations of Bias and Lack of Neutrality
Humanitarian organizations affiliated with the United Nations are expected to operate impartially, independently, and without undue outside influence. UNRWA, however, has been widely criticized for operating contrary to these principles.
The United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion on October 22, 2025, asserting that international law requires Israel to fully cooperate with UNRWA in its humanitarian mission to Palestinian civilians. The ICJ dismissed what Israel presented as overwhelming evidence that UNRWA is compromised and cannot perform its duties without bias or influence from Hamas.
Critics argue this advisory opinion is politically motivated and one-sided, lacking the careful legal reasoning and impartiality expected from the ICJ. Fortunately, advisory opinions are non-binding under international law.
### Security Concerns and Hamas Infiltration
One of the most troubling allegations against UNRWA is its failure to properly vet employees, which has allegedly resulted in hiring individuals affiliated with Hamas and other terrorist organizations, as well as those with close family ties to terrorists.
A former UNRWA Commissioner-General candidly acknowledged this reality, stating:
> “Oh, I’m sure that there are Hamas members on the UNRWA payroll, and I don’t see that as a crime. Hamas as a political organization does not mean that every member is a militant, and we do not conduct political vetting to exclude individuals based on their affiliations.”
Another former Commissioner-General similarly remarked:
> “Our employees are part of the social fabric of Gaza and its ecosystem. And as part of that social fabric in Gaza, you also have Hamas.”
UNRWA is thus perceived as being infiltrated by individuals hostile to Israel, which correlates with reports that some UNRWA employees participated in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks inside Israel—where horrific acts including massacres, rapes, tortures, and abductions of Israeli civilians occurred.
Moreover, Hamas has reportedly used UNRWA facilities—such as schools and clinics—to store rockets and other weapons and to launch attacks against Israeli population centers. Despite this, UNRWA has taken little to no effective action to prevent such misuse of its premises.
### Education and Propaganda
UNRWA-run schools have been criticized for incorporating anti-Israel propaganda in their curricula under the influence of Palestinian authorities. According to UN Watch:
> “Hamas took over the UNRWA staff unions that oversee thousands of teachers and school principals, and hijacked the agency’s entire education system.”
### The ICJ’s Controversial Judgment and Dissent
Despite what many see as ample evidence of UNRWA’s entanglement with Hamas, the ICJ majority concluded:
> “The Court considers that the information before it is not sufficient to establish UNRWA’s lack of neutrality for the purpose of assessing its impartiality as an organization under Article 59 [of the Fourth Geneva Convention].”
This decision has been criticized as a case of willful blindness. The judges reportedly ignored evidence that contradicted their predetermined outcome, and failed to acknowledge recent developments such as Israel permitting substantial humanitarian aid into Gaza during the current ceasefire, aligned with President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
In contrast, Vice President of the ICJ, Judge Julia Sebutinde, dissented, expressing concerns that:
> “The Court did not sufficiently consider Israel’s arguments that Hamas operatives have infiltrated UNRWA, thereby potentially undermining the neutrality of that humanitarian organization.”
Judge Sebutinde emphasized that Israel’s termination of its provisional cooperation agreement with UNRWA may be justified based on credible evidence of UNRWA’s involvement in terrorist activities. She also noted:
> “There is no legal requirement that Israel as an occupying Power must permit a specific third State or international organization to conduct humanitarian activities in the OPT [Occupied Palestinian Territory] if doing so would compromise Israel’s security interests.”
### Political Implications and Broader Criticism
The ICJ has increasingly been viewed as a politicized forum. The U.S. State Department condemned the ICJ’s advisory opinion, stating it:
> “Unfairly bashes Israel and gives UNRWA a free pass for its deep entanglement with and material support for Hamas terrorism.”
The State Department warned of the dangerous precedent set by what it terms the ICJ’s “ongoing abuse of its advisory opinion discretion.” According to U.S. officials, the ICJ’s advisory opinions have deteriorated into “nothing more than a partisan political tool, which can be weaponized against Americans.”
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The controversy surrounding UNRWA continues to impact discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, humanitarian aid, and international law. Its future remains deeply contested amid accusations of bias and security risks, alongside calls for accountability and reform.
http://www.ruthfullyyours.com/2025/10/29/un-international-court-of-justice-harangues-israel-again-says-that-israel-must-work-with-un-agency-that-is-entangled-with-hamas-by-joseph-klein/