Date: 12/1/2026
He reviewed the seriousness of targeting UNRWA, warning against undermining its mandate
– He called on Sweden to reconsider its decision to suspend funding to UNRWA
Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, Ahmad Abu Holi, discussed with the Consul General of the Kingdom of Sweden to the State of Palestine, Sophie Bååth, the financial situation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and its repercussions on services provided to refugees across its five fields of operation, as well as the conditions of Palestinian refugees in the camps and Swedish funding.
During his meeting with the Consul General at the headquarters of the Department of Refugee Affairs in the city of Ramallah on Saturday, in the presence of the Deputy Head of the Department, Anwar Hammam, Abu Holi expressed his rejection of any infringement on UNRWA’s legal status and its mandate granted under UN General Assembly Resolution 302 through transferring its powers to host governments and international organizations, affirming the continuation of UNRWA’s work until a just solution to the refugee issue is found in accordance with Resolution 194.
He addressed the difficult living and humanitarian conditions endured by Palestinian refugees in the camps, and the war of extermination waged by the Israeli occupation government in the Gaza Strip for the past two years, which has resulted in nearly 280,000 casualties, including martyrs and wounded—most of them children, women, and the elderly—as well as the destructive aggression against camps in the West Bank, particularly the northern camps (Nur Shams, Tulkarm, and Jenin). He noted that the occupation imposes onerous conditions for the return of the displaced, including banning UNRWA’s operations, conducting security screening, and opening military roads to obstruct reconstruction.
Abu Holi stressed the need for concerted international efforts, including by Sweden, to protect UNRWA’s mandate and prevent its erosion through the chronic financial crisis and the political and military attacks led by the occupying power against UNRWA’s facilities and staff.
He added that UNRWA’s presence and the continuation of its services across its fields of operation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, as well as in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, constitute a factor of stability in the region and a lifeline for Palestinian refugees who rely primarily on its services and food and cash assistance, affirming that attempts to liquidate UNRWA will not succeed.
He stated that UNRWA requires USD 200 million to manage its operations for the first quarter of 2026, and that there are no indications the Agency will be able to cover this shortfall during the current month, warning that the continuation of the financial deficit will undermine UNRWA’s work and prevent it from delivering services and paying staff salaries over the next two months.
Abu Holi confirmed that the Israeli occupation’s targeting of UNRWA premises in Jerusalem—specifically in Sheikh Jarrah and Kafr ‘Aqab—along with the closure of its main headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah, the shutdown of its six schools, and the denial of water and electricity supplies to UNRWA facilities and offices, will have serious repercussions on the Agency’s operations and the services it provides to 110,000 Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem.
He noted that the Israeli move comes within the framework of a plan to dismantle UNRWA and replace it with another agency affiliated with the United Nations, constituting a blatant violation of international law, relevant General Assembly resolutions, and bilateral and multilateral agreements.
Abu Holi emphasized the importance of Sweden’s historic role through its position as a member of UNRWA’s Advisory Commission since 2005, as the fifth-largest international donor to UNRWA with annual funding estimated at USD 50 million, and its leadership—together with Jordan—of international donor conferences for UNRWA.
He called on Sweden, as a model defender of international humanitarian law, to reconsider its decision to suspend funding to UNRWA, which he described as impactful funding, affirming that the resumption of Swedish funding would enable UNRWA to overcome its financial crisis and halt austerity measures that have undermined staff rights and led to the termination of the contracts of dozens of employees in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem. It would also contribute to protecting the multilateral international system, of which UNRWA represents one of the most important political and humanitarian pillars and testimonies.
For her part, the Consul General affirmed Sweden’s commitment to continuing its steadfast support for the Palestinian people and its adherence to the two-state solution as the only option for achieving a just peace. She also expressed Sweden’s keenness to further develop bilateral relations between Palestine and Sweden.
