Advocate

take action: restore US government funding for UNRWA

As the new Congress convenes, we must act now to identify and rally as many members as possible who align themselves with Palestine refugees and UNRWA’s humanitarian and human development mission. A well-financed campaign of UNRWA detractors in the United States is working to block future US funding to UNRWA in conjunction with efforts in Israel to dismantle the Agency entirely.

The Israeli lawmaking body, the Knesset, passed laws banning contact with UNRWA and banning UNRWA from operating in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli authorities have denied visas for international UNRWA staff since January 30, 2025 and enforced the law banning contact with UNRWA, impeding agency activities and deconfliction. 

Despite these impediments, UNRWA is committed to staying and delivering. UNRWA’s staff, facilities, and infrastructure remain the backbone of the humanitarian response in the devastated Gaza Strip and serve as a significant stabilizing presence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. 

And there’s room for hope here at home. UNRWA supporters in Congress, including Reps. Carson, Jayapal, and Schakowsky in the House of Representatives and Senators Welch, Sanders, Van Hollen, Klobuchar, and Hirono in the Senate are leading the charge to restore US funding for UNRWA through the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025.

You can help bring the United States back as UNRWA’s top donor by reaching out to your elected officials and urging them to co-sponsor this critical piece of legislation. By doing so, you can help secure the support needed to restore US government funding for UNRWA and the life-saving services it provides to Palestine refugees.

Fill out the form below to send a pre-drafted message to your elected officials: