U.S. Ends UNRWA Role in Gaza Aid Operations, Establishes New Humanitarian Coalition

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Washington announces major shift in Gaza aid strategy

Washington, October 24 — The United States has formally excluded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from participating in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, in what officials describe as a sweeping realignment of international relief efforts. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the new approach would rely on a coalition of eight to twelve humanitarian organizations, naming the World Food Programme (WFP), Samaritan’s Purse, and several other multilateral and non-profit partners as lead participants.

Rubio stated that the move was made after months of review into what he described as UNRWA’s “deep institutional compromise” with Hamas, which governs Gaza. “The United States will not channel aid through an organization that has become, in essence, a subsidiary of Hamas,” Rubio said at a press briefing at the State Department. His statement marks a milestone in U.S. policy toward aid governance in conflict zones, particularly in the Middle East.

Background on UNRWA’s role in Gaza

UNRWA was founded in 1949 to provide relief and support to Palestinian refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. For decades, it has operated schools, clinics, and food distribution networks in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. In Gaza alone, UNRWA had served nearly 1.7 million people, providing food assistance, shelter, and health services under immense constraints.

However, the agency’s relationship with Western governments has come under growing scrutiny. Over the past decade, multiple donor nations have questioned UNRWA’s staffing, financial transparency, and alleged ties to Hamas. A series of reports and intelligence briefings shared among U.S. and European agencies earlier this year claimed that Hamas had infiltrated key parts of the agency’s operations. That charge sharply divided the international donor community, with some governments defending the agency as indispensable and others calling for its restructuring or dissolution.

U.S. decision intensifies international debate

The American decision effectively sidelines an organization that once represented the backbone of humanitarian activity in Gaza. Within hours of the announcement, several European foreign ministries called for consultations on how the shift might affect aid delivery to one of the world’s most densely populated and volatile regions.

Rubio confirmed that the U.S. has coordinated the decision with “trusted partners” from Europe and the Middle East, but he declined to identify which governments had endorsed the change. “This is about accountability and effectiveness,” he said. “We have a moral obligation to make sure humanitarian supplies reach civilians, not militants.”

This realignment follows a pattern of increasing skepticism toward UNRWA from Washington. U.S. support was first curtailed in 2018 under earlier administrations and then partially restored in subsequent years. The current move eliminates UNRWA entirely from U.S.-backed coordination structures, replacing it with a diversified network of organizations that Washington argues will enhance monitoring and limit diversion of aid resources.

Coalition partners take the lead

The new coalition, according to State Department officials, will be composed of both secular and faith-based organizations operating under a framework of transparency and logistical control. The World Food Programme will reportedly manage bulk shipments and food distribution, while Samaritan’s Purse and other faith-affiliated NGOs will handle healthcare services, sanitation, and emergency relief.

These groups are expected to work alongside UN entities that are not tied to UNRWA, including UNICEF and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Such coordination is designed to ensure operations continue under international humanitarian law and within existing UN logistics protocols, even as UNRWA itself is cut out of the financing loop.

Officials said that real-time tracking mechanisms, including digital verification for aid deliveries, would be deployed to prevent theft or misuse. Satellite-based monitoring of aid convoys, similar to systems used in Yemen and South Sudan, is also under consideration.

Economic and humanitarian implications for Gaza

For Gaza’s two million residents, more than half of whom depend on humanitarian assistance, the policy shift could have immediate effects. UNRWA’s extensive network of local employees—nearly 13,000 in Gaza alone—has historically managed aid distribution across dozens of refugee camps and urban centers. Replacing that infrastructure could take months, raising concerns among regional governments and humanitarian experts about potential disruptions.

Economists specializing in the region warn that a gap in aid delivery could further strain the enclave’s fragile economy. Gaza’s unemployment rate has hovered near 45 percent for years, while its GDP per capita is among the lowest in the Mediterranean basin. Humanitarian spending constitutes a significant portion of local income, enabling public services such as education and healthcare to remain operational despite repeated conflicts and blockades.

Analysts note that shifting aid channels might temporarily depress local liquidity as existing UNRWA staff face layoffs or delayed payments. “If distribution pauses even briefly, the ripple effects will be immediate,” said a regional economist based in Amman. “Local markets, already fragile, won’t withstand more shocks without decisive stabilization support.”

Regional comparison and precedent

Historically, large-scale humanitarian realignments have taken months to implement, even under stable conditions. In Syria, for example, when international agencies restructured relief channels away from Damascus toward cross-border operations in 2014, supply interruptions lasted nearly six months before stabilizing. Aid flows fell by almost 40 percent during that transition period.

A similar pattern could emerge in Gaza unless alternative systems are immediately functional. The State Department’s announcement emphasized that pre-positioned supplies and logistical staging areas in southern Israel and Egypt would ensure continuity. “We’ve learned from past disruptions,” a senior U.S. official said. “Our focus is speed, accountability, and results.”

Neighboring Egypt and Jordan, both longstanding hosts to Palestinian refugee populations, have responded cautiously. Egypt’s foreign ministry issued a brief statement urging that “humanitarian work must remain insulated from politics.” Jordan’s government, whose own cooperation with UNRWA supports nearly two million registered refugees, has requested a formal briefing on the scope of the American changes.

International response and diplomatic tension

Within the UN system, the decision was met with restrained but pointed criticism. A spokesman for the UN Secretary-General said the organization “regrets actions that could disrupt essential aid to Palestinian refugees” and reaffirmed that UNRWA remains “a vital lifeline in Gaza.” Several European allies privately voiced concern that bypassing UNRWA might undermine broader humanitarian coordination frameworks established over decades.

On Capitol Hill, reactions mirrored the long-standing partisan divide over U.S. engagement with UN agencies. Some lawmakers praised the decision as overdue accountability, while others warned it could complicate humanitarian access and alienate allies. Rubio emphasized that the move was not meant to weaken international collaboration but to “modernize it for current security realities.”

The humanitarian challenge ahead

Field workers who spoke anonymously voiced uncertainty about the future of aid logistics in Gaza. Many questioned whether alternative organizations could match UNRWA’s staffing scale and local knowledge. Supply managers noted that while international NGOs have experience operating in conflict environments, Gaza’s restrictions on movement and imports pose unique logistical challenges.

Despite these concerns, there is considerable momentum among Washington’s chosen coalition partners. The World Food Programme has reportedly begun expanding local partnerships to sustain food assistance without interruption. Samaritan’s Purse has pledged to mobilize emergency medical units within weeks. Other organizations, including regional charities registered in Jordan and the UAE, are preparing to join the coalition.

Broader geopolitical implications

The shift could reshape not only humanitarian dynamics but also the geopolitics of aid in the Middle East. Israel has long accused UNRWA of allowing Hamas to exploit its networks for militant purposes. By contrast, Palestinian authorities and many Arab governments have defended the agency as indispensable to meeting basic needs and protecting refugee rights.

By excluding UNRWA, Washington signals alignment with Israel’s long-standing position while betting on a more diversified and monitored aid model. That approach may test cooperation with European allies who continue to fund UNRWA’s programs and view them as a stabilizing force in a volatile region.

At a strategic level, experts suggest that this policy may usher in a new era of U.S.-directed aid architecture, emphasizing transparency technology, private-sector logistics, and faith-based humanitarian partnerships. It reflects a growing trend toward conditionality in foreign assistance, tying aid delivery to political and security benchmarks rather than relying on legacy institutions.

Outlook for Gaza’s civilian population

As Gaza enters another uncertain phase, the success of this transition will depend on the ability of the new coalition to maintain steady aid flow while building trust with local communities. Humanitarian monitors caution that missteps in the handover could worsen already dire conditions. Yet supporters of the U.S. plan argue that reinventing the aid model is necessary to ensure integrity and reach.

“Ultimately, the goal is to separate humanitarian compassion from political manipulation,” Rubio said. “Our resolve is to help the people of Gaza while maintaining the highest standards of accountability.”

For millions reliant on international aid, the weeks ahead will determine whether this new coalition can deliver on that promise—swiftly, safely, and without interruption in a region where every delay carries immense human cost.