The Beirut-based “302 Commission for the Defense of Refugee Rights” warned of what was stated in the report submitted by a committee formed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, last February, to review the impartiality of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), after the occupation’s allegations. The involvement of 12 agency employees in the events of October 7, 2023.

The Commission said, in a “position assessment” issued on Monday, that the report “establishes a new strategic phase for the future of UNRWA that has been working on for years by major countries... by working to separate the political dimension from the agency’s work related to the return of refugees, and strengthening the agency’s developmental role in Calculating the relief role in the camps of the host countries, in preparation for the resettlement of refugees.”

It is noteworthy that the report on UNRWA’s performance was submitted by a committee formed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, headed by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, and supported by three research centers from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Meetings were held that included 47 people representing countries and international bodies, in addition to meetings with 200 people. After 9 weeks, the report (54 pages) was issued, with its two agreed upon parts.

The committee submitted one of its initial official reports to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on March 20, but it was not circulated to the public based on prior agreement. Then the second part of the report was presented on April 22, which included 50 recommendations.

Among its recommendations, the report called for the formation of an international executive body from outside “UNRWA” to supervise the work of the agency. “Commission 302” said about that recommendation: “In our assessment, it paves the way for the removal of the legal and political responsibility of the United Nations General Assembly towards refugees through UNRWA, and obstructs the work of the committee.” Advisory Council for the agency that was established with the founding of UNRWA, which consists of 28 countries and 3 observer members.

The Commission referred to the report’s recommendation to add more international employees to the agency’s body, and according to the “situation assessment,” this would “impose more internal oversight work and exercise security roles and the role of prosecution of employees and all of the agency’s work.”

“Commission 302” expressed its belief that reproducing the “UNRWA” agency to be able to settle refugees in the countries that host them (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon) will lead to “important partial financial reliefs in the next stage in the form of incentives on the one hand and conditions on the other hand.” Its features were highlighted by France, which set the conditions for reforming employee unions in the agency that would enable it to disburse its annual contribution to the agency.

The “situation assessment” saw that the financial breakthroughs “will be linked to the rapid submission of reports by the agency committing to implement the 50 recommendations contained in the report, and to strengthening development programs in the camps... They will be implemented in cooperation and coordination between UNRWA, donor countries and countries hosting refugees under approved international oversight.” All parties have to do so.”

The situation assessment recommended “caution and attention to what is being planned for the issue of Palestinian refugees and their right to return by targeting the agency, especially by the countries hosting refugees that could indulge in the resettlement project and its repercussions.”

He called for “the need for there to be intensive work programs to defend and fortify this international institution in the midst of the ongoing war of genocide against Gaza and the war on the right of return, and to double the popular, diplomatic, legal, media, and political movement and for centers of studies and research, in the face of misinformation and distortion of the ongoing work of the agency led by the occupation and its tools.” 

He stressed the need for “the UNRWA issue to remain permanently present by all Palestinian political stripes, as a national issue that deserves to be at the top of the agenda for immediate follow-ups, as it relates to the humanitarian, political and legal future of more than 6 million Palestinian refugees.”