Rubio says UNRWA to play no role in Gaza aid deliveries
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said UNRWA will have no role in Gaza aid delivery, despite an ICJ ruling ordering "Israel" to facilitate UN operations.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the media after visiting the Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern occupied Palestine on October 24, 2025 (Fadel Senna/Pool Photo via AP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will not take part in delivering humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, effectively confirming a continued UNRWA Gaza aid ban despite international pressure.
“UNRWA's not going to play any role in it … UNRWA became a subsidiary of Hamas,” Rubio told reporters during his visit to "Israel."
Rubio stated that between eight to twelve organizations are currently participating in humanitarian operations inside Gaza, while adding that the United Nations maintains a presence in the enclave. He said the United States is ready to coordinate with the UN if existing arrangements prove effective.
ICJ rules 'Israel' failed to prove UNRWA staff are Hamas members
His remarks came just two days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that "Israel" is obligated to facilitate UN humanitarian activities, including those of UNRWA, under Article 105 of the UN Charter.
The ICJ stressed that the Israeli occupation must respect the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its agencies operating in Palestine.
ICJ judge Yuji Iwasawa noted that Israeli restrictions on UNRWA were not backed by credible evidence, stating that "Israel" had failed to prove that a significant number of the agency’s employees were affiliated with Hamas or any other armed group.
The UN strongly denied allegations of any institutional ties between UNRWA and Hamas. UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq reaffirmed on Friday that UNRWA remains a neutral humanitarian organization operating under UN oversight and in full compliance with international law.
Despite the Marco Rubio UNRWA statement, the ICJ ruling underscores that “Israel” is still legally bound to allow UN aid delivery into Gaza, where humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate. The ICJ also dismissed "Israel's" claim against the agency after it failed to provide substantial proof.
41 aid groups slam Israeli blocking of aid shipments to Gaza
Forty-one organizations working on the ground in Gaza have urged "Israel" to honor its obligations under the ceasefire and international law, allowing humanitarian aid to reach those in need, Oxfam reported on Thursday.
Since the ceasefire went into force, Israeli authorities have repeatedly blocked shipments of essential assistance, while a new, restrictive INGO registration process has further delayed urgent relief operations, Oxfam said in a joint letter with 40 other organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
According to the joint letter, Israeli restrictions not only deprive Palestinians of lifesaving aid but also undermine the coordination of Gaza’s response system, which depends on cooperation among local organizations, national institutions, UN agencies, and international NGOs.
"The restrictions are depriving Palestinians from lifesaving aid and undermining coordination of the response system in Gaza, which relies on collaboration between local organizations, national institutions, UN agencies, and international NGOs," Oxfam said in the joint letter with 40 other organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
