BoP excludes UNRWA from Gaza reconstruction — SkimNews

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- Board of Peace announced it will exclude UNRWA from Gaza reconstruction efforts, stating the agency does not meet its standards for reliability or deradicalization
- UNRWA remains active in Gaza with about 11,000 Palestinian employees delivering healthcare, education, water, and sanitation services despite the exclusion
- Hamas accused the Board of Peace of adopting Israel’s position, calling the move a 'complete alignment with the Zionist [Israeli] position' aimed at ending refugee rights
- Christian Saunders, UNRWA’s acting Commissioner-General, said the agency remains of 'considerable humanitarian and strategic value' and warned against disregarding its capabilities
- Philippe Lazzarini, former UNRWA chief, warned that removing the agency would have a 'devastating' effect on Palestinians, noting its irreplaceable role amid ongoing suffering
- Board of Peace official confirmed members had met UNRWA officials but maintained that 'UNRWA’s days are over,' even as its programs could continue under new arrangements
Why it matters: By sidelining UNRWA — which serves 1.76 million displaced people in Gaza — the Board of Peace elevates Israeli political demands over established humanitarian infrastructure, risking deeper crisis in a territory where 84% of the population lacks adequate shelter and $71.5bn in reconstruction is needed.
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