Demand action from the UK to support UNRWA and protect Palestinians’ lives

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has long been a lifeline for millions of Palestinians, providing essential services such as healthcare, education, and emergency aid to refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, and beyond. However, recent Israeli restrictions and bans on UNRWA have put these vital operations—and the lives they support—in grave jeopardy.

With reports from UNRWA, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and other humanitarian organisations documenting the severe consequences of these restrictions, the urgency for international intervention has never been clearer. Palestinians are now not only at risk from continued violence but also from the systematic dismantling of the structures that have provided them with fundamental human rights and services. We call on the UK to intervene decisively to uphold humanitarian support for Palestinians by standing behind UNRWA and challenging these destructive policies.

The Role of UNRWA: Essential Support Under Threat

UNRWA operates across multiple sectors, providing health clinics, schools, and emergency relief to millions of Palestinian refugees. In Gaza alone, the agency supports over 1.4 million individuals with essential services like primary healthcare, trauma support, and education, which are crucial to maintaining a stable and hopeful society amidst ongoing hardship. But these programs are now on the brink of collapse due to a series of aggressive bans from Israel, which undermine aid operations and block life-saving assistance to those who need it most.

A recent report by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) reveals that the Israeli ban on UNRWA and other aid restrictions could trigger a massive humanitarian crisis. Medical services for trauma, maternal health, and chronic illnesses are already severely compromised. Restrictions on UNRWA will deepen these crises by reducing access to health facilities, interrupting school operations, and limiting essential relief distributions, all while humanitarian needs are at an all-time high due to escalating violence and blockades.

The European Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has also warned that such restrictions constitute a violation of Palestinians’ fundamental rights, with potential repercussions for refugee protection and regional stability. By preventing UNRWA and other aid organisations from delivering essential services, these policies are intensifying a humanitarian emergency that threatens to devastate Palestinian communities and destabilise the region further.

How you can help: Lobbying for UK Government Intervention

It is within the UK’s power and responsibility to help ensure that UNRWA can continue its work without obstruction. As a country that has championed international humanitarian laws and conventions, the UK must act to protect the rights of Palestinians by advocating for the reversal of Israeli policies that block humanitarian aid.

Take action by contacting your Member of Parliament (MP) to demand that the UK government:

1. Publicly Condemn the UNRWA Ban: The UK should oppose any policy restricting humanitarian aid and violating international laws protecting refugees.
2. Pressure for Humanitarian Access: Demand that Israel allow unhindered access for UNRWA and other agencies to continue providing essential services to Palestinian refugees.
3. Ensure Continued UK Support for UNRWA: Advocate for sustained funding and political support for UNRWA to ensure it can operate without constant threats of closure or restriction.

Email your MP today to demand that they address this issue in Parliament.

By urging the UK government to oppose these life-threatening restrictions, you are standing up for the lives and rights of Palestinians. UNRWA’s role is essential, and its work must not be hindered by political manoeuvring that disregards the humanitarian impact on millions of Palestinian refugees.

This is not only a matter of policy but a question of upholding human dignity and international law. Act today.