Gaza Reconstruction Board Excludes UNRWA as Ceasefire Conditions Remain Unmet
The U.S.-led Board of Peace said UNRWA will not participate in Gaza's reconstruction, saying it does not satisfy its standards for reliable partners. The decision followed the board's presentation of a $2.4 billion, 66-project recovery plan that did not name the agency. Hamas accused the board of adopting Israel's position, while the plan remains stalled over Hamas disarmament.
The U.S.-led Board of Peace said UNRWA would not be a reconstruction partner, stating it only works with trusted groups that back a Gaza free from radicalization. It did not explain its standards. Its $2.4 billion, 66-project recovery outline listed other UN bodies as implementers but omitted the agency.
Before the conflict, the agency operated most of Gaza’s schools and primary health clinics. An AP report said board members met agency officials privately, and former UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said appointed Palestinian technocrats wanted cooperation. Hamas called the decision aligned with Israel; the plan remains stalled over Hamas disarmament.
The exclusion could heighten uncertainty for Gaza families who depended on UNRWA schools and clinics, especially if replacement providers cannot match its reach. With winter approaching and aid access contested, unmet shelter and medical needs may worsen. Because reconstruction remains tied to Hamas’s disarmament, displaced residents and humanitarian workers could face prolonged limbo, while the dispute may further complicate international coordination and ceasefire prospects.