Dismantling UNRWA: The End of the Refugee Question or the Start of a New Phase?

An analysis of the consequences of UNRWA funding cuts for Palestinian refugees, and a reading of the political agenda behind the drive to dismantle the UN agency.

Author

Pal-Think research team

Date

2026-04-02

Key points

• UNRWA's funding has fallen 42% since 2017, stripping it of operational capacity.
• The targeting campaign seeks to erase UN recognition of Palestinian refugee status.
• Substituting humanitarian agencies cannot replace UNRWA's political and legal function.

Recommendations

• Adopt an international coalition to defend UNRWA's continuity and funding.
• International legal documentation of refugee rights independent of the UN agencies.
• Bring cases before the International Court of Justice over the violation of refugee conventions.