Owners of Homes Destroyed in 2014 Israeli War Shut UNRWA HQ in Gaza

A Palestinian man burns tires outside the headquarters of the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNRWA), during a protest demanding the UNRWA to rebuild their houses that were destroyed during the Israel war in 2014, in Gaza City September 19, 2022. (Reuters)
A Palestinian man burns tires outside the headquarters of the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNRWA), during a protest demanding the UNRWA to rebuild their houses that were destroyed during the Israel war in 2014, in Gaza City September 19, 2022. (Reuters)
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Owners of Homes Destroyed in 2014 Israeli War Shut UNRWA HQ in Gaza

A Palestinian man burns tires outside the headquarters of the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNRWA), during a protest demanding the UNRWA to rebuild their houses that were destroyed during the Israel war in 2014, in Gaza City September 19, 2022. (Reuters)
A Palestinian man burns tires outside the headquarters of the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNRWA), during a protest demanding the UNRWA to rebuild their houses that were destroyed during the Israel war in 2014, in Gaza City September 19, 2022. (Reuters)

Dozens of Palestinians protested on Monday outside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza demanding the UN body to fulfil its commitments and pay the compensations they are entitled to.

Owners of destroyed homes in the Israeli war on Gaza Strip in 2014 set rubber tires on fire, threw stones and eggs at the UN building, and prevented employees from entering or leaving.

Spokesperson for those affected Abdulhadi Muslim said the demonstration is a message to UNRWA and warned that it will be followed by other similar messages.

He told reporters in Gaza that after nine years of patience, waiting is no longer possible.

Muslim complained that the UNRWA pledged to pay the bills for any repair and construction of the damaged homes, but it failed to fulfill its promise.

The UN body had counted the damage caused by the 2014 51-day war, the longest Israeli attack on Gaza since the Hamas movement took over the enclave in 2007.

It said that over 12,600 housing units were totally destroyed and almost 6,500 sustained severe damage during the conflict.

“Almost 150,000 additional housing units sustained various degrees of damage and remained inhabitable,” it revealed.

UNRWA prepared lists of the names of the affected people and asked them to make the repairs at their expense, pledging that they will be compensated later.

The owners of the houses have yet to receive any funds.

Despite pledges worth billions of dollars by donor countries to reconstruct Gaza, a real rebuilding process has to get underway due to political and security hurdles.

Mohammed al-Najjar, one of those affected by the conflict, said: “We have been suffering for eight years. UNRWA is only procrastinating.”

This issue has deepened after more houses were damaged in subsequent Israel offensives against Gaza over the years.

Leading member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Mahmoud Khalaf called on UNRWA to pay for those affected during Israeli wars on Gaza in 2014, 2021 and 2022 and reconstruct their houses.

He described UNRWA’s failure to fulfil its promises a “disgrace,” noting that it aligns with Israel’s goal to prolong the suffering of the people of Gaza.



Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)

International donors gathered on Monday in a show of support for Syria, hoping to encourage the new leaders of the conflict-ravaged country toward a peaceful political transition following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani attended the conference — the ninth of its kind — in a first for a top official from Damascus.

But the United States, one of Syria’s top donors, wasn’t expected to offer assistance as the Trump administration is reviewing all foreign aid. It contributed almost $1.2 billion to Syria and the region last year.

Ministers and representatives from Western partners, Syria’s regional neighbors, other Arab countries and UN agencies also attended the one-day meeting in Brussels, organized in haste by the European Union amid change sweeping the country.

Opening the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026.

“We call on all of you who are here today to do the same, if possible, because at this critical time, the people of Syria need us more than ever,” von der Leyen said.

Syria's new leaders are trying to consolidate control over territory that was divided into de facto mini-states during nearly 14 years of civil war, and to rebuild the economy and infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that could reach at least $400 billion.

At the same time, Western governments are cutting back on aid spending, in part to use in defense budgets.

“We will give more, but we cannot fill the gap left by the US,” EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told reporters. "We will need to share the burden.”

Security concerns are also making donors hesitate. Earlier this month, an ambush on a Syrian security patrol by gunmen loyal to Assad triggered clashes. Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks — primarily targeting Assad’s Alawite minority sect — that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.

The EU said that it will only support “a peaceful and inclusive transition, away from malign foreign interference, which guarantees the rights of all Syrians without distinction of any kind.”

The 27-nation bloc has begun to ease energy, transport and financial sector sanctions to encourage the new authorities, but many other Western sanctions remain in place. The EU can reintroduce sanctions if things don’t go to the liking of Western backers.

Syria's foreign minister said that lifting the measures is no longer just a government demand but "a humanitarian and moral necessity.”

"We cannot talk about economic recovery and humanitarian development in Syria while restrictions continue to prevent even the arrival of medical equipment and spare parts to repair damaged hospitals and essential service facilities,” he said.

Syria's economy, infrastructure and institutions are in tatters. As a failed state, it could become another haven for extremists.

Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration, urged donors to seize this opportunity to encourage the interim government to move in the right direction.

“It’s critical that countries take advantage of the moment we’re in,” Pope told The Associated Press.

“Of course, we all want to see an inclusive Syria,” she said. “We want to make sure there’s accountability for human rights violations. But the answer is to engage more, not to engage less.”

Syrians have only a few hours of electricity each day. Water supplies are unreliable and often unsafe. Unemployment runs to 80% or 90%. Destruction is widespread.

Many government employees and experts needed to rebuild fled after the 2011 peaceful anti-regime protests were violently quelled by Assad, leading to the conflict.

The UN refugee agency said that last year around 7 million people were displaced in Syria. More than 4.7 million refugees are registered in neighboring countries, most in Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan.

The German government said that it would pledge around 300 million euros ($326 million) to help deal with the fallout from Syria’s civil war. More than half will be used to help people in Syria, with other funding supporting Syrians and communities elsewhere.

Monday's conference was also focused on meeting Syria’s economic needs. Infrastructure, health and education must be scaled up. Jobs and cash for work programs are needed so that Syrians can start to make a living.