In the wake of Vice President JD Vance’s departure back to Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in Israel, where he voiced strong criticisms against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). His comments came amidst discussions surrounding a U.S.-facilitated ceasefire.
Rubio made it clear that UNRWA would not be involved in the humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza. “UNRWA’s not going to play any role in it,” he stated when questioned about the agency’s potential involvement. “The United Nations is present, and we’re open to collaborating with them if they can manage it, but not with UNRWA. It has effectively become an extension of Hamas.”
In response, UNRWA took to social media platform X to assert its readiness and capability to operate in Gaza. “As the largest UN agency in the Gaza Strip, we possess unmatched logistical networks and are trusted by the community. We manage supply distributions based on vulnerability and strict criteria. Our teams are prepared, both inside and outside Gaza. Let us do our work,” the agency declared.
Secretary Rubio addressed the media after his visit to the newly established Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in southern Israel on October 24, 2025. This CMCC was set up following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, supported by international leaders and mediated by the United States. It was here that Rubio delivered his remarks, reinforcing the U.S. stance on excluding UNRWA from the aid operations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to a question as he speaks to the media after visiting the Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel on Oct. 24, 2025. (Fadel Senna/Pool via Reuters)
On Oct. 17, days after world leaders backed a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) opened a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which is where Rubio spoke on Friday.
The CMCC is located in southern Israel and will serve as the main hub for Gaza stabilization efforts. It will also oversee implementation of the ceasefire agreement and has an operations floor designed to track real-time developments in Gaza.
During the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) last month, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at a meeting in support of UNRWA, saying that the agency has “made invaluable contributions to development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security, including for Israel.”
“UNRWA is vital to any prospects for peace and stability in the region,” Guterres added.
UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza City, Gaza, on Feb. 21, 2024. (Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
However, the U.S. and Israel have taken hard stances against the agency, particularly in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
President Donald Trump in February reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to not fund UNRWA.
In the executive order, Trump said that “UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated by members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations, and UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.”
A Palestinian boy walks near an UNRWA school sheltering displaced people that was hit in an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza City on July 5, 2025. (Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters)
In April 2025, when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanded Israel work with UNRWA, Washington backed Jerusalem, saying it was under no obligation to work with the agency and had “ample grounds to question UNRWA’s impartiality.”
UNRWA announced in August 2024 the end of an investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services into whether its staff participated in the attacks, as Israel claimed. Following the probe, which looked into 19 UNRWA staff members, nine staff members were fired over evidence that “could indicate” they were involved in the attacks.
The investigation found one case in which there was no evidence to confirm the staffer’s involvement and nine other cases in which “the evidence obtained by OIOS was insufficient” to prove their participation, according to UNRWA.
Fox News Digital reached out to UNRWA and Israel’s mission to the U.N. for comment.
