Mohamed ElBaradei: “I am ashamed” of Arab states’ failure to fund UNRWA crisis

UNRWA funding crisis: ElBaradei’s statements, and UN warnings of a financial deficit threatening the continuation of UNRWA services, amid escalating debate over the agency’s future in the Gaza Strip

Former IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei criticized Arab and Islamic states over the funding crisis of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), expressing his feeling of “shame for this disgrace,” coinciding with UN warnings of a financial deficit threatening the continuation of the agency’s services to millions of Palestinian refugees, and as debate escalates over UNRWA’s future and role in the Gaza Strip.

Mohamed ElBaradei criticizes UNRWA funding and Arab and Islamic states

ElBaradei’s remarks came in response to a UN conference to mobilize funding for UNRWA, amid warnings of a financial crisis threatening the agency’s ability to continue providing services to Palestinian refugees.

ElBaradei said on his X account that the UN is “begging” to secure the necessary funding for UNRWA, which faces bankruptcy, to enable it to continue providing services to about 5.9 million Palestinian refugees in the areas of food, education, healthcare, and other basic services.

He added, asking: “Are we, 57 states, unable to provide this modest sum, or have we lost whatever remains of our humanity toward the Palestinian people after leaving them to face this tragedy?”

He concluded his post by saying: “I only know that I am ashamed as an Arab Muslim, and before that of course as a human being, of this disgrace.”

إلى العالم العربي والإسلامي:

الأمم المتحدة ” تتسول” من أجل التبرع لمنظمة الأونروا @UNRWA -التى هى على وشك الإفلاس- حتى تتمكن من الوفاء بإلتزاماتها نحو 5.9 مليون لاجئ فلسطينى من غذاء وكساء وصحة وتعليم وغيرها من اساسيات الحياه والكرامة الإنسانية…

هل نحن- 57 دولة- غير قادرين على… https://t.co/JGZGgALlHI

— Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) July 1, 2026

UN warns of financial deficit threatening UNRWA’s continuation

ElBaradei’s remarks coincided with UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ warning that UNRWA faces a “dangerous turning point” that could threaten its continued operation.

Guterres said the agency suffers a financial deficit estimated at about $100 million, along with what he described as political and legislative pressures targeting its role in the Palestinian territories.

UNRWA provides education, health, relief, and social assistance services to millions of Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operation, while the UN stresses that the continuation of these services depends on securing the necessary funding in the coming period.

UNRWA’s future in Gaza sparks new debate

In a related context, the Peace Council for the Gaza Strip posted on X that it sees no place for UNRWA in the future of the Strip, adding that it seeks to end what it described as “continued reliance on aid,” considering that Gaza residents “deserve more than that.”

The Council defines itself as a transitional administrative body tasked with coordinating efforts for the redevelopment of the Gaza Strip, within the framework of the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump in September 2025, which was later endorsed by the UN Security Council.

This proposal sparked broad debate over the agency’s future, amid concerns expressed by activists and Palestinian figures that ending UNRWA’s role could affect the status of the Palestinian refugee issue.

Palestinian reactions to UNRWA’s future

The Peace Council’s announcement sparked widespread reaction on social media platforms, as many Palestinians saw that UNRWA’s role is not limited to providing humanitarian services but is also linked to the Palestinian refugee file.

In the same context, Hamas issued a statement criticizing the Council’s statements and what it said were positions from the US administration regarding UNRWA’s future, considering that these proposals intersect with Israeli policies toward the agency.

The movement said that UNRWA represents, from its perspective, an international witness to the Palestinian refugee issue, noting that its mandate is based on a mandate from the UN General Assembly.

UNRWA funding crisis worsens amid continued pressure

UNRWA has faced a worsening funding crisis for months, alongside political pressures and Israeli measures targeting its work, while the UN affirms the agency’s continued commitment to the principle of neutrality.

The United States, which was UNRWA’s largest donor, had halted its funding in early 2024, after Israel announced allegations that a limited number of the agency’s employees participated in the October 7, 2023 attack, allegations that the UN said it addressed through investigation and internal review procedures, affirming that the allegations do not apply to the agency as an institution.

As international efforts continue to mobilize funding, UNRWA’s funding crisis remains a central focus of international debate, with continued warnings of the repercussions on the essential services the agency provides to millions of Palestinian refugees, as debate continues over the future of its role in the Gaza Strip.

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