On January 30, 2025, the European Parliament received a letter from French MEP Celine Imart, signed by 30 colleagues, urging UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to terminate operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The letter follows the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, with allegations that these individuals were concealed within UNRWA facilities.
Imart condemned UNRWA for allegedly assisting a terrorist organization, calling the actions politically, morally, and legally reprehensible. The letter included signatures from members of various political groups, including the Republicans and European People's Party.
The call for action coincides with Israel's cessation of UNRWA activities within its territory, following a law passed in October 2024, though operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip continue. Israeli authorities have accused 12 UNRWA employees of involvement in the October 7, 2023 attack, raising significant concerns about the agency's integrity.
In August 2024, a UN investigation suggested that nine UN personnel could have been implicated in the Hamas attack. Guterres expressed regret over Israel's decision to ban UNRWA, labeling it unreasonable and contrary to international obligations.
Established in December 1949, UNRWA provides essential services to nearly six million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that UNRWA is 'totally infiltrated' by Hamas, advocating for alternative UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to replace it.