Web Desk; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) will have no role in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, while also ruling out any involvement of Hamas in the future administration of the territory.
Speaking during a press conference in Israel on Friday, Rubio accused UNRWA of operating as “a subsidiary of Hamas,” repeating allegations that have already been dismissed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Responding to his comments, UNRWA reaffirmed that its presence remains crucial to addressing urgent humanitarian needs across Gaza, where more than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s two-year-long offensive.
The agency stated on X that the ICJ had recognised that “no other organisation can replace UNRWA’s role in supporting the people of Gaza.”
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq also rejected Rubio’s claims, stressing that “UNRWA is not linked to Hamas” and remains “the backbone of humanitarian operations in Gaza.”
Israel suspended the agency’s operations after accusing some staff of involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, though no proof has been presented.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent Nour Odeh described Rubio’s remarks as “shocking and damaging,” noting that UNRWA has been cleared by the ICJ and two independent investigations. “It has thousands of employees, detailed data, and the infrastructure necessary to deliver aid with dignity and efficiency,” she added.
Despite a US-brokered ceasefire earlier this month, Israeli airstrikes continue across Gaza, while the Rafah border crossing with Egypt remains closed, obstructing large-scale aid deliveries.
Rubio said he hopes to form an international task force to monitor the ceasefire, stating that only countries acceptable to Israel will participate.
Turkey, which has taken on a greater mediating role after President Erdogan’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, said discussions about the task force were still ongoing. “We are ready to support Gaza in every way,” Erdogan noted. Indonesia and the UAE have also expressed readiness to contribute to the peace and monitoring efforts.
Meanwhile, Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo announced the formation of a temporary technocratic committee to manage Gaza’s basic services, pending a broader political settlement.
Hamas’s political bureau member Husam Badran said all Palestinian groups agreed on a unified vision to serve national interests.
Conditions on the ground remain dire. Gaza’s civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said entire neighbourhoods are flattened, bodies remain trapped under debris, and roads are impassable.
“Every corner of Gaza bears the marks of devastation,” he said. Families returning north find only the ruins of their homes, struggling daily for food and water.
UN officials have urged Israel to allow more aid trucks through multiple crossings, warning that current levels fall far short of the 600-truck daily requirement. The World Health Organization also said that hunger and suffering persist despite the ceasefire.
Hamas, meanwhile, stated that it had received “clear assurances” from mediators that the war has effectively ended and urged pressure on Israel to lift its blockade on humanitarian aid.
