US urges donors to abandon UNRWA funding as UN defends agency’s mission

A Palestinian man collects food from a humanitarian aid distribution point in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, July 20, 2025.(Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The French representative said allegations against UNRWA had been taken seriously and argued that the agency was implementing recommendations from the Colonna review intended to strengthen neutrality and transparency.France also supported an eventual, gradual transfer of UNRWA’s responsibilities to reform and strengthen Palestinian institutions as part of a broader political settlement.

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UNRWA’s acting chief, Christian Saunders, said during the same debate, “I agree with the statement that we seem to be doing the same thing over and over again,” Saunders said, calling for “a just and lasting solution to the plight of the Palestinian refugees.” He also agreed that the current system risks creating “an endless cycle of dependency,” saying UNRWA must do more to promote livelihoods and economic opportunities so Palestinians can “live full and meaningful lives while waiting for a political solution.” Saunders added that the agency supports Security Council Resolution 2803, the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza until authority can be transferred to the Palestinian Authority.

The funding dispute comes as UN Watch is demanding that Guterres waive any immunity enjoyed by Lazzarini, whose term has ended, so national authorities can investigate allegations that he ignored repeated warnings aboutHamas infiltration.

In a June 30 letter, the Geneva-based watchdog claimed that it had provided Lazzarini and his administration with evidence involving teachers, school principals, union leaders and other employees who allegedly supported or were affiliated with Hamas and other terrorist groups.It argued that the claims create grounds for an independent criminal investigation.

�that there are supporters of terrorism — in some cases, actual members of Hamas — working as teachers, working as school principals,” Neuer said, “Not one bad apple, not a few rotten apples, but the problem of support for terrorism … was systematic.”

Neuer said waiving Lazzarini’s immunity would not amount to a finding of guilt but would allow prosecutors to test the evidence.

“The investigation may prove there’s no evidence, and it’s over,” Neuer said.“But at least you should waive immunity to allow an investigation.The U.N.said that if anyone was found involved, ‘we will cooperate.’ Now is the test.”

Asked whether Guterres would consider waiving Lazzarini’s immunity, Dujarric did not answer directly.

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Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), holds a press conference in Jerusalem on October 27, 2023.(Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“As far as I know, UN Watch is not a judicial authority,” he said.“We have always, as a matter of principle, cooperated with investigations by national authorities.”

UN Watch’s letter argues that immunity exists to protect the interests of the United Nations rather than provide a personal benefit to an official, and that it should be waived where it would obstruct justice without harming the organization.

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