We Believe in Israel (WBII) welcomes President Donald Trump’s decision to halt all United States funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This bold and principled move addresses longstanding concerns about the agency’s role in perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than contributing to its resolution. WBII urges the United Kingdom to follow the United States’ lead by reassessing its financial support for UNRWA and redirecting aid towards initiatives that foster genuine peace and reconciliation.
UNRWA’s mandate, established in 1949, was intended as a temporary measure to provide relief for Palestinian refugees. Yet, more than seven decades later, the agency has entrenched a system that sustains refugee status across generations, undermining efforts to resolve the issue through resettlement and integration. Unlike the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which seeks durable solutions for refugees worldwide, UNRWA perpetuates a unique and discriminatory definition of refugee status. By extending this status indefinitely to descendants of the original 1948 refugees, UNRWA inflates refugee numbers and perpetuates a sense of grievance and victimhood, exacerbating tensions in the region.
WBII is deeply concerned about the misuse of international funding by UNRWA. The agency has faced allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and the promotion of hate and incitement within its educational programmes. UNRWA-run schools have been documented teaching curricula that glorify violence, demonise Israel, and deny Jewish historical and cultural ties to the land. Such practices do not contribute to peace but instead entrench hostility and mistrust, particularly among young Palestinians.
President Trump’s decision to halt US funding underscores the importance of accountability and effectiveness in international aid. The $360 million annual contribution from the United States accounted for nearly one-third of UNRWA’s budget, and its withdrawal sends a clear message: international aid must be contingent upon transparency, accountability, and alignment with the broader goal of peace. The UK, as a significant donor to UNRWA, has a moral and strategic responsibility to ensure that its aid promotes coexistence rather than division.
Instead of funding an agency that perpetuates the status quo, WBII calls on the UK government to invest in programmes that support resettlement, economic development, and educational reform for Palestinians. Such initiatives should focus on fostering coexistence, reducing dependency on aid, and promoting mutual understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. By reallocating funding to initiatives that prioritise peace-building and self-reliance, the UK can play a more constructive role in resolving this protracted conflict.
The UK has long been a champion of peace, human rights, and international law. By reassessing its support for UNRWA, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to these principles and encourage other nations to follow suit. WBII stands ready to support the UK government in exploring alternative approaches to aid that promote a genuine and sustainable peace in the Middle East.
President Trump’s decision is a watershed moment in the international community’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. WBII urges the UK to seize this opportunity to take a stand for accountability, transparency, and peace. Together, we can help build a future where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in security, dignity, and mutual recognition.