The UNRWA was established by the United Nations in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees following the first Arab–Israeli war. Relations between the agency and Israel have deteriorated sharply, particularly since the Hamas terror attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
At a joint press conference, Luxembourg’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Xavier Bettel, insisted that without UNRWA’s work, the humanitarian situation for civilians in the Gaza Strip would be more catastrophic that it already presently it is. For this reason, he said, Luxembourg would continue to support the agency. He added that accusations from segments of the Israeli political establishment suggesting any involvement by UNRWA in the 7 October attacks were not substantiated.
While the Foreign Minister acknowledged that UNRWA’s work had not always been flawless, he underlined that shortcomings were addressed whenever they were identified. Referring to criticism raised during his visit to Gaza, Minister Bettel said UNRWA had been receptive and had worked constructively to resolve any issues. He also cited the Colonna report as an important assessment highlighting existing gaps and ways to address them, highlighting that the agency must remain beyond reproach.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, for his part, strongly criticised Israel’s actions against the organisation. He noted that more than 380 UNRWA staff members had been killed over the past two years and condemned the tearing down of the agency’s headquarters in East Jerusalem.
Describing the situation in Gaza, Lazzarini painted a bleak picture. While a ceasefire had been declared, he said it existed largely in name only, with repeated violations. Since the ceasefire, more than 500 people had been killed, including over 100 children.
According to Lazzarini, one of UNRWA’s most urgent priorities is restoring access to education for Palestinian children. Failure to do so, he warned, risks the loss of an entire generation and could fuel further radicalisation.
