FDD Morning Brief Is this the end of UNRWA? | feat. Asaf Romirowsky
Feb 2, 2026
Asaf Romirowsky, executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East and leader at ASMEA, is an expert on UNRWA and campus Middle East advocacy. He discusses allegations of NGO complicity and vetting disputes. He covers Israel’s designation of UNRWA, evidence cited, and operational limits in Gaza. He also talks about aid systems, education reform, and campus funding influences.
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NGO Neutrality Is Compromised
- NGOs like Doctors Without Borders often refuse background checks and thus become complicit with local actors.
- Asaf Romirowsky argues this undermines neutrality and enables terror groups to exploit aid networks.
UNRWA's Gaza Access Severely Restricted
- Israel has effectively curtailed UNRWA's operations in Gaza and declared it an FTO.
- Asaf Romirowsky says UNRWA can only operate into Gaza from the Egyptian/Hamas side, not via Israeli areas.
UNRWA As A Political Actor
- UNRWA has for decades blurred humanitarian work with political agendas, hiring Palestinians sympathetic to militant causes.
- Romirowsky calls UNRWA a case study where the client hijacked the service provider.