UNRWA Reduces Staff in Gaza as Israel Limits Access to Essential Aid
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached alarming new depths, with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) making distressing staffing cuts that jeopardize the livelihoods of many individuals working on the ground. The recent dismissal of 600 employees, including educators like Maryam Shaaban, who have dedicated years to supporting their communities, highlights a struggle that extends beyond jobs to the very fabric of stability within the besieged enclave. As the agency faces financial shortfalls amidst intensified Israeli military actions, both humanitarian needs and international legal standards are being tested.
Gaza City – After 18 years of dedicated service teaching in a school operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Maryam Shaaban—whose name has been changed for her safety—collapsed when she learned about the termination of her employment, one of 600 staff members affected by drastic organizational cuts. The decision marks a continuation of the hardships faced by the residents of Gaza, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict fueled by Israel’s military operations in the region.
Earlier in January, UNRWA announced a series of stringent austerity measures, including a 20 percent salary reduction for local staff in Gaza, curtailed working hours, and the cessation of contracts for employees located outside the territory who were previously on “exceptional leave.” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini communicated in a letter that these actions were necessitated by a staggering budgetary shortfall of about 0 million for 2026, threatening the agency’s core operations, including salaries and critical humanitarian programs.
Maryam Shaaban, a 52-year-old educator currently displaced in Egypt with her injured husband, started her career with UNRWA in 2007, teaching in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Like many others in the region, she has faced enormous personal loss, having recently endured a devastating airstrike that killed 15 people, including her 22-year-old daughter and other family members.
The Israeli government has stepped up its criticism of UNRWA, accusing it of being complacent or lenient with Palestinian armed factions, claims that the agency has firmly rejected. UNRWA asserts its commitment to maintaining standards and accountability against any instances of misconduct. However, in 2025, new legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset effectively banned the agency’s operations in areas designated as “Israeli sovereignty,” particularly in occupied East Jerusalem, heightening tensions between the organization and Israeli authorities.
Since October 2023, over 380 UNRWA staff members have been reported killed due to Israeli attacks, underscoring the increasingly hostile environment in which aid workers operate. In recent weeks, Israeli bulldozers partially destroyed UNRWA’s headquarters in East Jerusalem, a move described by Lazzarini as part of a broader effort to undermine the Palestinian refugee identity. The warning from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel could face international legal consequences if it continues to target UNRWA reflects the agency’s crucial role within international law frameworks.
Maryam recalls the harrowing experience of having to leave Gaza for medical treatment to accompany her critically injured husband, while being forced to leave behind her other children. She expressed a sense of injustice and despair, questioning the legality and morality of the actions taken against her family during their time of need.
UNRWA, which serves about 70 percent of Gaza’s population by providing education, healthcare, and social assistance, is widely regarded as a stabilizing force in the region amidst prolonged conflict and hardship. The recent staff cuts, compounded by significant reductions in reported international donations, further jeopardize it from fulfilling these essential services at a time when the need is greatest.
Gaza has seen widespread anger and protests among UNRWA staff who assert that the most impacted area—already suffering from extreme deprivation—is being unfairly targeted compared to other regions, such as the West Bank or Jordan. Mustafa al-Ghoul, head of the UNRWA staff union, articulated the frustrations of his colleagues, stating that the initial measures taken against Gaza are unfathomable given its dire circumstances.
The deterioration of conditions for displaced families is palpable, as the ramifications of the cuts resonate through healthcare, education, and food security. Mothers like Jihan al-Harazin, displaced and reliant on UNRWA’s support, feel the stark transformation of daily life devoid of basic necessities and essential services.
Experts and activists emphasize that undermining UNRWA ultimately serves broader agendas to erase the Palestinian identity and rights. In a climate rife with hostility toward humanitarian work in Gaza, the concerted effort against UNRWA is positioned as part of ongoing attempts to diminish Palestinian claims to return and compensation, a crucial element of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As the challenges mount, the necessity of international support for humanitarian operations in Gaza remains more critical than ever, underlining the urgent need for robust solidarity and action in defense of those striving to uphold dignity amidst ongoing adversity.
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