Palestinian camps and the Israeli-American war on UNRWA

The issue of Palestinian camps and the Israeli and American war on UNRWA is considered one of the most dangerous issues discussed in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict throughout the history of contemporary struggle, not only in terms of the humanitarian and living dimensions, but also in terms of political and strategic exploitation, as the Palestinian camps, as a political and national symbol:

Since the Nakba of 1948, Palestinian camps have been a symbol of refuge and deprivation. At the same time, they have also become a permanent historical witness to the crime of forced displacement perpetrated against the Palestinian people. Their presence in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan represents a constant reminder of the right of return, making them a strategic burden on the falsified Israeli historical narrative, which seeks to permanently close the refugee file and cement it in the political memory of the international community.

UNRWA is not just a relief agency; it is the only international entity that legally recognizes the existence of Palestinian refugees and their right of return. Israel and the United States view UNRWA's continued operations as a long-term political and existential threat to Israel, as it undermines its attempts to impose the narrative that the "refugee issue has ended." Both have waged a systematic campaign against it for years, including funding cuts, diplomatic incitement, and repeated accusations of supporting "terrorism."

In security and political contexts, Israel uses the camps as a pretext for military operations under the pretext of "fighting the resistance's infrastructure." It also exploits the conditions of overcrowding and poverty to justify its actions before the international community. More importantly, however, in a broader sense, is its political exploitation of the war against UNRWA in particular, in order to redefine the identity of the Palestinian refugee. This is achieved through political and economic pressure on host countries to integrate refugees into their societies and revoke their legal status as Palestinian refugees.

Weakening or dismantling UNRWA would not only deprive millions of Palestinians of education, healthcare, and basic aid, but it would also be a step in a systematic process to revoke Resolution 194 on the right of return. It would also constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, which obligates the occupying power to protect civilians in the occupied territories, especially in the absence of an effective international alternative to UNRWA.

The international community is called upon to fortify UNRWA politically and financially and reject Israeli attempts to liquidate it. At the Palestinian level, a strategic vision is needed to transform the camps from weak points into elements of resistance to erasure, by strengthening national identity and creating a documented and convincing legal discourse on the international stage.

Therefore, the Israeli attack on UNRWA and targeting of the camps is not merely a security endeavor, but rather a political project to liquidate the right of return and dismantle one of the last legal constants and pillars of the Palestinian cause. The required response must be a combination of national legal fortification, media documentation, active diplomacy, and broad public diplomacy.