Gaza Protests: Thousands Rally to Protect UNRWA from "Liquidation Plans"

Thousands of Palestinians gathered on Tuesday for a massive demonstration in Gaza City to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Organized by the PLO’s Refugee Affairs Department, popular committees, and UNRWA employee unions, the protest aimed to safeguard the agency’s international mandate and the rights of its workers amid ongoing Israeli efforts to dismantle the organization.

The protest, held under the slogan "UNRWA is a Red Line," took place in front of the agency’s main operations headquarters. It drew a wide spectrum of participants, including Palestinian factions, community leaders, and thousands of refugees. Demonstrators warned that liquidating UNRWA would not only cause a humanitarian catastrophe but also eliminate the "sole international witness" to the Palestinian refugee crisis and the events of 1948.

A Stand Against Austerity and Termination Protesters carried placards denouncing recent austerity measures, including collective dismissals, salary reductions, and reduced working hours. Jamal Obeid, a senior Fatah official, addressed the crowd, stating that the targeting of UNRWA is a "political maneuver" aimed at erasing the historical rights of refugees. He emphasized that the Palestinian people remain steadfast despite siege, hunger, and displacement.

Defending a Legal and Humanitarian Pillar Adel Mansour, Director General of Refugee Camps, spoke on behalf of the PLO, describing UNRWA as the "legal and political title" of the refugee cause. He called for an immediate reversal of recent administrative decisions that penalize employees who were forced to flee Gaza under fire. Mansour stressed that protecting UNRWA’s mandate, derived from UN Resolution 302, is essential for human justice and the dignity of millions of refugees.

The demonstration concluded with a call to the international community to provide stable funding and political protection for the agency, warning that any infringement on its role would directly jeopardize regional stability and international law.