Washington Rules Out Roles for Hamas and UNRWA in Gaza’s Future
Jerusalem/Gaza City — October 24, 2025:
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that both Hamas and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) will be excluded from any future role in Gaza’s governance or aid delivery. Rubio’s comments came during a press conference in Israel, amid ongoing tensions over limited humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.
Rubio accused UNRWA of operating as a “subsidiary of Hamas” — an allegation that has been repeatedly discredited by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and dismissed by multiple UN bodies. His statement underscores Washington’s growing alignment with Israeli positions on post-war Gaza governance.
“UNRWA is not going to play any role,” Rubio asserted, reiterating that the agency’s activities in Gaza are “compromised.”
UNRWA and UN Push Back Against Rubio’s Claims
UNRWA swiftly rejected Rubio’s accusations, emphasizing that its operations remain vital to the survival of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents.
In a statement on X, the agency said it “remains essential to meeting urgent humanitarian needs” and reminded that the ICJ has recognized no other organization can replace UNRWA’s role in Gaza’s relief infrastructure.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, also defended UNRWA, stressing that it is “the backbone of humanitarian operations in Gaza.”
“UNRWA is not linked to Hamas,” Haq told reporters in New York. “Its workers are risking their lives daily to deliver aid in impossible conditions.”
Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh called Rubio’s remarks “shocking and devastating” for the thousands of UNRWA workers who sustain Gaza’s relief efforts.
“UNRWA has the largest humanitarian network in Gaza — thousands of employees, decades of data, and a structured aid system. No one else has that kind of reach,” Odeh said.
Gaza Aid Blockade Persists Despite Ceasefire
Although a US-brokered ceasefire took effect earlier this month, Israel continues to restrict aid deliveries, maintaining a tight blockade on Gaza’s border crossings.
At least two Palestinians were killed on Friday in renewed Israeli shelling near Deir el-Balah, according to hospital sources. Meanwhile, Rafah crossing, Gaza’s primary gateway to Egypt, remains sealed, halting large-scale aid shipments promised under the ceasefire agreement.
UN officials report that aid trucks entering Gaza have never reached the 600-per-day minimum required to meet urgent humanitarian needs.
“The situation remains catastrophic,” said World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “What’s entering is nowhere near enough.”
US Proposes Gaza Security Force Under Israeli Oversight
During his visit, Rubio also proposed forming an international task force to enforce the ceasefire and manage Gaza’s security. He stated that Israel would have veto power over which nations participate.
“The force must consist of countries Israel is comfortable with,” Rubio said.
NATO member Turkiye, which has emerged as a key mediator alongside Egypt and Qatar, is reportedly excluded from the proposal due to Israeli objections. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that discussions are ongoing.
“We are ready to provide Gaza with any form of support,” Erdoğan said on Friday, emphasizing Turkiye’s willingness to help implement peace efforts.
Indonesia has also expressed readiness to contribute troops, while the United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, is already involved in ceasefire monitoring.
Palestinian Factions Agree on Technocratic Gaza Committee
In a parallel development, Palestinian factions — including Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA) — reached a tentative agreement in Cairo to establish a temporary committee of technocrats to manage Gaza’s civil affairs and basic services.
According to Hamas official Husam Badran, the move aims to ensure a unified Palestinian approach to reconstruction and governance.
“All factions agree on a unified vision to serve the interests of our people,” Badran stated.
The proposed committee would coordinate efforts with Arab nations and international organizations, marking a potential step toward intra-Palestinian reconciliation after years of division between Hamas and the PA.
Life in Gaza: ‘A Daily Struggle for Survival’
Despite diplomatic activity, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire and worsening.
More than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 2023, according to local health authorities. The destruction of homes, infrastructure, and public services has left millions displaced and dependent on scarce aid.
Civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal described conditions as “beyond catastrophic,” saying rescue teams are “working with almost no resources” amid collapsed buildings and blocked roads.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, described a bleak reality:
“Families returning to northern Gaza find nothing but skeletons of buildings — no water, no food, no electricity. People walk for hours, sometimes days, searching for flour or canned food.”
The UN and humanitarian agencies have warned that widespread famine and disease are imminent unless Israel allows full aid access through multiple crossings.
Outlook: Diplomacy Meets Desperation
While the US continues to back Israel’s right to self-defence and control over Gaza’s postwar framework, its rejection of UNRWA and Hamas raises critical questions about who will oversee reconstruction and aid delivery in the Strip.
For now, Gaza’s residents face unrelenting hardship — caught between political manoeuvres, aid blockades, and the devastation of war.
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