Former UNRWA Official: The Zionist Entity Targets the Agency to Erase Palestinian Existence (Report)
Lex Takkenberg, a Dutch former senior official at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has accused the Zionist entity of orchestrating attacks against the agency as part of a broader plan to “erase the existence and history of the Palestinian people.”
Takkenberg, who served in various senior positions at UNRWA for 31 years, including a decade in Gaza, spoke to Anadolu Agency about the ongoing assaults on the agency, from past to present, and the increasing restrictions and pressures during his time in the region.
Amid the ongoing genocidal campaign against Gaza, backed by the US, the Zionist entity announced on November 4, 2023, that it had informed the United Nations of its decision to terminate the agreement governing UNRWA’s operations, which could effectively ban the agency’s activities within three months.
Takkenberg, co-author of the book Palestinian Refugees in International Law with UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese, stressed that the Zionist entity’s attacks on UNRWA are part of a systematic strategy to destroy Palestinian institutions, education systems, and historical record.
A Long History of Conflict Between the Zionist Entity and UNRWA
Established in 1949 by a UN General Assembly resolution, UNRWA was tasked with providing assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in its five operational areas: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza.
Takkenberg noted that the relationship between the Zionist entity and UNRWA has been fraught with tension since 1967, when the Zionist entity occupied the West Bank and Gaza. He explained that while the Zionist entity wanted UNRWA to continue its services for Palestinians, it also recognized that as the occupying power, it would eventually have to provide those services itself.
He added that the Zionist entity’s accusations against UNRWA staff have been a longstanding issue, with the first crisis arising over claims of anti-Semitic content in the textbooks used by the agency’s schools in Egypt and Jordan. During his years at UNRWA, Takkenberg recalled that the Zionist entity accused staff in Gaza and the West Bank of involvement in terrorist activities.
He also noted that right-wing extremist parties and politicians in the current Zionist entity government are particularly vocal in their attacks against UNRWA. He remarked, “Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot afford to say no to these groups, as he must protect his coalition.”
The Zionist entity’s hostility towards UNRWA has intensified since the formation of the new government and following the October 7, 2023, attacks. Takkenberg pointed out that on the day the International Court of Justice issued its first provisional ruling on genocide, the Zionist entity accused some UNRWA employees of being involved in the October 7 attacks.
The Target Is the Palestinian People and Their History
Takkenberg emphasized that right-wing extremists in the Zionist entity see UNRWA as a symbol of the international community’s ongoing responsibility towards the Palestinian cause. “With the ongoing genocide in Gaza, it is clear that the Zionist entity is trying to erase the Palestinian people, their history, archives, institutions, education systems, and universities,” he said.
He highlighted the critical role of UNRWA, which employs 30,000 staff in the region, noting that the agency provides essential public services like education, health care, social services, small loans, and housing support. During periods of conflict, its schools also serve as shelters for displaced people.
Takkenberg stressed that Europe is concerned that if UNRWA collapses, a new refugee crisis may emerge, as seen in 2015, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sought refuge in countries like Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.
UNRWA: A Symbol of the Right of Return for Palestinians
Takkenberg pointed out that UNRWA also represents the rights of Palestinian refugees, particularly the right of return, which is at the heart of their struggle, along with the right to self-determination and compensation.
He stressed that the Zionist entity has targeted UNRWA because of its symbolic role in advocating for the right of return and its ongoing efforts to uphold this right.
“UNRWA was established to assist and support refugees, but this does not negate the fundamental right of return, which remains the preferred solution for Palestinians,” Takkenberg stated. “UNRWA is tangible evidence of the international community’s ongoing responsibility for Palestinian refugees and the broader Palestinian cause.”
Disrupting UNRWA’s Work Violates International Law
Takkenberg reiterated that the Zionist entity’s actions against UNRWA violate the Genocide Convention and the provisional rulings of the International Court of Justice, which prohibit making the agency’s operations impossible.
He noted that UNRWA had asked the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to protect its authority, staff, and operations from Zionist entity attacks. Takkenberg also emphasized that the Zionist entity is not only targeting UNRWA but all UN institutions operating in the region.
This ongoing assault on UNRWA marks a critical moment in the struggle for Palestinian rights and underscores the broader challenge facing international efforts to protect Palestinian refugees and their right to return.
