Hamas said on Tuesday that it viewed the Board of Peace's decision to exclude the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from Gaza operations as an alignment with Israel. The group framed the exclusion as politically motivated and criticised the effect it could have on humanitarian work in the enclave.
UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for providing education, healthcare, food assistance and other services to Palestinian refugees, is a major humanitarian actor in Gaza. Its staff and programmes have long been central to the delivery of aid and basic services to millions of people in the territory.
Analysts and aid workers say that limiting UNRWA's role in Gaza could complicate efforts to reach vulnerable populations, particularly given the densely populated nature of the territory and the extent of civilian needs. Excluding an established agency can force a reorganisation of logistics and partnerships at a time when timely access is critical.
The dispute reflects broader tensions over the operation of international relief agencies in conflict settings, where questions of neutrality, access and political pressure frequently arise. Debates over which organisations are authorised to deliver assistance can have immediate consequences for relief flows and for the civilians who rely on them.
Hamas's public rebuke of the Board of Peace adds to an ongoing conversation about how humanitarian assistance is managed in Gaza and who is trusted to carry it out. Observers say resolving such disagreements quickly is important to prevent gaps in aid delivery and to protect civilian livelihoods and services.