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Middle East Eye
4 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Unrwa chief on Gulf deals with Trump: 'I wish a trickle of those trillions went to Palestinians'
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) has urged Gulf states to give a fraction of the money mentioned in US President Donald Trump's 'mega deals' to Palestinian refugees struggling to survive in the occupied Palestinian territories and neighbouring countries. Philippe Lazzarini told Middle East Eye that Unrwa, the largest humanitarian provider for approximately six million Palestinian refugees, is currently operating with a "negative cash flow," and the shortage of funds may force him to take "a difficult decision" as US funding remains suspended. "We are confronted with a very severe financial crisis, which, if it persists in the near future, will force me to take a difficult and painful decision," he told MEE's upcoming episode of Expert Witness podcast. "Because if we have no resources, we cannot pay the staff. We might be confronted with a situation where the money is not available any more, even to process our salaries. And if that is the case, the agency will be forced to look at what services among the critical services are more critical than others." Unrwa, whose staff members are mostly Palestinian refugees, has been at the receiving end of Israeli attacks since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023. At least 310 of its employees have been killed by the Israeli army over the past 19 months and over 80 percent of its premises have been destroyed. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In January last year, 18 states suspended their funding to Unrwa pending investigations into alleged Hamas links. However, by July, all states except for the US reinstated their funding after a UN inquiry found no evidence of wrongdoing by Unrwa staff. So far, no country has stepped in to compensate the agency for the lack of US funding, said Lazzarini. He called on Gulf Arab states to dedicate more funding for Unrwa, saying he wished the multi-billion dollar deals with Donald Trump in his latest Gulf tour included pledges for Palestinian refugees. 'We are at a crossroad. If financially we have no resource any more, there is a risk that the agency implodes' - Philippe Lazzarini, Unrwa chief Trump's Middle East trip, which included stops in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), resulted in deals worth over $700bn, with the White House claiming that $2 trillion worth of deals have been agreed. "I wish a trickle of all these trillions of dollars committed would also come for the Palestinian refugees," Lazzarini told MEE. According to confirmed pledges for Unrwa as of 31 December 2023, the US was the top confirmed donor with $422 million, followed by Germany ($212.8m), the European Union ($120.165m), France ($62.42m), Sweden ($48.8m), Japan ($48.5m), Norway ($45.7m), the Netherlands ($40.7m), Canada ($39.3m), and the UK ($36.8m). Saudi Arabia was ranked 17 among donors, with a pledge of $17m, while the UAE pledged $15m, and Turkey $22.1m. Trump suspended funding for Unrwa during his previous presidency in 2018, and part of the funding was resumed in 2021 under the Joe Biden administration. Palestinian students at an Unrwa school in Shuafat, Jerusalem on 6 May 2025 (AFP) Lazzarini said that Arab states have yet to provide funding for 2025. He called on them to invest in the agency while taking part in efforts to establish a functioning Palestinian state. "We got support last year from the Arab countries. This year we are still waiting for what the decision will be. "We have reassurances from Arab countries that their contribution will continue and that they will step in. But today, we are almost at the end of May. I still do not have the necessary clarity to know what this contribution will be." Unrwa may 'implode' Lazzarini addressed the Arab world and other UN member states, saying that salvaging Unrwa requires a political will. "We are at a crossroad. If financially we have no resource any more, there is a risk that the agency implodes. And if it implodes, that means in Gaza or in the West Bank - where the situation is already difficult, chaotic, distressful - that will mean more distress, more despair," he said. "Anyone can imagine what it would mean if an agency like ours would leave a vacuum behind us, but it would also send shockwaves in the neighbouring countries, all of them have their own internal dynamics to deal with, or internal fragilities." The commissioner-general added, however, that Unrwa has enjoyed growing support from global civil society and private donors over the past year. "Last year and this year, we have reached record fundraising when it comes to individual and private donors," he said, adding that a number of states from the Global South have pledged to contribute to the agency for the first time in a show of solidarity after Western defunding. "But this is not compensating for the shortfall left behind by the withdrawal of the United States." Palestinians seeking aid gather near an aid distribution site run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on 27 May 2025 (Reuters) For Lazzarini, who is the 11th head of the agency, Unrwa must be part of any future plan for Palestinian statehood, with a view to end its mandate once a functioning Palestinian state is in place. "I would like the agency to end its mandate by being part of a solution, rather than to be confronted with a situation where we are just imploding and collapsing." Lazzarini said he is in contact with Saudi Arabia concerning funding for 2025. But so far, no pledges have been confirmed. He explained that it was Saudi Arabia, the co-chair of the Global Alliance for the I fmplementation of the Two-State Solution, that brought Unrwa into conversations with world leaders to discuss plans to gradually merge Unrwa's human development work with a future Palestinian state. "There is an awareness about the importance of supporting the agency," he said. Unrwa was established by the UN as a subsidiary organisation in 1949, after the Arab-Israeli war that erupted following the creation of the state of Israel the previous year. In 1950, Unrwa was responsible for an estimated 750,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes amid violence by Zionist groups - an event commemorated as the Nakba, Arabic for "catastrophe". Today, there are 5.8 million Palestinian refugees registered by Unrwa, living in dozens of camps in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Most of Unrwa's budget is dedicated to the provision of education, followed by healthcare, support services, relief and social services, and infrastructure and camp improvement. Unrwa ban Israel's parliament, the Knesset, passed two laws in October 2024 banning Unrwa from operating inside Israel and occupied Palestine. The first law says that Unrwa is not allowed to "operate any institution, provide any service, or conduct any activity, whether directly or indirectly", in Israel, including occupied East Jerusalem, which Israel considers part of its sovereign territory. Israel's Gaza siege 'unconscionable and deeply illegal': Norway deputy foreign minister Read More » The second law prohibits Israeli government officials and agencies from contact with Unrwa. This one is a consequence of the first law and is concerned more with operations in the West Bank and Gaza, explained Lazzarini. The laws effectively ban Unrwa from operating inside Israel, Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel has since closed six schools operated by Unrwa in occupied East Jerusalem. According to Lazzarini, the closure of East Jerusalem schools earlier this month, in accordance with the first Israeli law, has impacted 550 students. It took place two months before the end of the school year, without an alternative offer to students. "Most likely, [Palestinian students] will just lose their entire school year because of such a decision," Lazzarini told MEE. Concerning the impact of the second law, Lazzarini said the no-contact policy effectively led to a halt in issuing visas to Unrwa's international staff. However, the organisation continues to provide public services, including education and primary health, in the West Bank and Gaza. In Gaza, Lazzarini said the organisation continues to operate with its remaining 12,000 staff despite the sustained Israeli attacks. "Our staff are sharing the fate of the population in Gaza," he said. "Somehow, we function in the absence of a ministry of education or primary health for the Palestinian refugees. "So our schools in the West Bank are still open. We are providing education to more than 50,000 students. And our primary health system is also functioning." The ban on Unrwa has triggered an ongoing case before the International Court of Justice, where states are asking the court to rule on Israel's obligations under international law to respect the immunities and privileges of UN agencies and to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to the population under its occupation. In its intervention before the court, the UK testified that Unrwa is "impartial and neutral" and argued that Israel's ban on the organisation was unjustifiable.
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
ASEAN, GCC launch free trade talks
Crown Prince, representing Amir, heads Kuwait delegation at key summits KUALA LUMPUR: The regional bloc of Southeast Asian nations ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states agreed on Monday, in a joint statement, to start negotiations over a free trade agreement. The agreement was sealed on the sidelines of the ASEAN/GCC summit in the Malaysian capital, in which HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is represented by HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The joint statement should serve as a launchpad towards talks on a free trade agreement between the two regional blocs, covering a wide array of sectors and economic aspects that would further reinforce trade ties between Kuala Lumpur and Gulf Arab states, it underlined. These talks come as per the directives of the leaders of GCC member states, which urge Gulf Arab countries to bolster their ties with 'international partners', said the Riyadh-based bloc's chief Jasem Al-Budaiwi, hailing the agreement as a major step forward in a bid to bring that goal to fruition. Leaders from the two regional blocs are assembling for talks in the Malaysian capital to discuss current developments and push forward bilateral relations. Al-Budaiwi affirmed Monday that the Gulf states are a globally trusted partner and a key hub for international cooperation, thanks to their credibility and balanced political approach. In a statement to KUNA ahead of the second GCC-ASEAN Summit and the first GCC-ASEAN-China Summit, Al-Budaiwi highlighted the high-level GCC participation in Kuala Lumpur as a reflection of the Gulf's serious commitment to strengthening partnerships with ASEAN and China. He emphasized that these summits come at a pivotal moment amid significant global transformations. Al-Budaiwi noted the deep and diverse economic ties between the Gulf and ASEAN, marked by substantial investments, and described the summit as a strategic platform for discussing trade, food security and regional economic integration with China. He stressed the GCC's goal of developing modern cooperation frameworks that respond to global geopolitical and economic shifts, focusing on innovation, technology, digitalization and enhancing regional security. Al-Budaiwi pointed out that the GCC-ASEAN-China grouping represents about 30 to 40 percent of the global economy, underscoring its economic and political significance, and reiterated the Gulf's policy of positive neutrality and its commitment to regional and international stability. On political issues, Al-Budaiwi praised ASEAN's supportive stance on the Palestinian cause, highlighting recent calls by ASEAN foreign ministers to halt the Zionist occupation's attacks on Gaza. He expressed the GCC's appreciation and support for this position and welcomed the upcoming Saudi-French conference in New York in June, expressing hope for meaningful international pressure on the Zionist occupation to end military operations, allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and pave the way for peace talks. The Malaysian foreign ministry announced that the ASEAN-GCC Summit is expected to produce two key documents: A joint statement and a declaration, while the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit will issue a joint statement. These documents are aimed at delivering balanced, mutually beneficial outcomes that promote regional stability and prosperity. – KUNA
Kuwait Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
ASEAN, GCC agree to launch free trade deal talks
KUALA LUMPUR: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah attends the ASEAN/GCC summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. - KUNA KUALA LUMPUR: The regional bloc of Southeast Asian nations ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states agreed on Monday, in a joint statement, to start negotiations over a free trade agreement. The agreement was sealed on the sidelines of the ASEAN/GCC summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in which His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is represented by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. The joint statement should serve as a launchpad towards talks on a free trade agreement between the two regional blocs, covering a wide array of sectors and economic aspects that would further reinforce trade ties between Kuala Lumpur and Gulf Arab states, it underlined. These talks come as per the directives of the leaders of GCC member states, which urge Gulf Arab countries to bolster their ties with "international partners," said the Riyadh-based bloc's chief Jassem Al-Budaiwi, hailing the agreement as a major step forward in a bid to bring that goal to fruition. Leaders from the two regional blocs are assembling for talks in the Malaysian capital to discuss current developments and push forward bilateral relations. - KUNA
Mint
22-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Qatar's luxury jet gift to Trump to serve as Air Force One: ‘Largest bribe in American history'
The Donald Trump-led US dispensation has confirmed that it has accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jetliner as a gift from Qatar during the President's recent visit to Gulf Arab states. The Pentagon further added that the aircraft, after being modified, would be used for Trump's transportation. "The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on Wednesday. The White House has asserted that the $400 million aircraft gift from the Middle Eastern country is legal, but the announcement has caused an uproar, with Democrats terming it the "largest bribe in American history" and have sought to block its handover. The US Constitution contains a provision known as the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits public officials from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments without the approval of Congress. In this instance, no such approval has been granted, BBC reported. Read | South African President jokes about Qatar's airplane gift for Trump: 'I'm sorry we don't have a plane to give you' "Today marks a dark day in history: the president of the United States of America officially accepted the largest bribe from a foreign government in American history," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer was quoted as saying by Reuters. He added that the "unprecedented action is a stain on the office of the presidency and cannot go unanswered." A week ago, Trump justified the transfer by saying, "They're giving us a gift." The president has also said it would be "stupid" not to accept the plane. The president has maintained that the plane transfer is lawful, as it is being provided to the US Department of Defence rather than to him personally. He also affirmed that he had no intention of using it after leaving office. Read | 'Don't want to say I did, but…': In Qatar, Trump reiterates he 'settled' India-Pakistan tensions Retrofitting the 13-year-old aircraft, which features a lavish interior, would require extensive upgrades to security systems and communications to prevent foreign surveillance, as well as defences against potential missile attacks, according to experts. Aviation specialists and industry sources previously stated that the plane might require fighter jet escorts and could be limited to flights within the United States unless these costly enhancements were made. On Tuesday, Democratic Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth warned that the retrofitting could exceed $1 billion, and it posed significant national security risks. Read | Boeing 747-8: Qatar's $400 million 'gift' to Donald Trump — from speed to range, here's what you need to know Duckworth said the United States has two fully operational Air Force One jets and has no need to retrofit the Qatari plane. "Any civilian aircraft will take significant modifications," Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said at a Senate hearing on Tuesday. "We will make sure we do what's necessary to ensure security of the aircraft." He said the Air Force had been directed to begin planning to address modifications to the plane. The Pentagon has not said how much it will cost or how long it will take. The costs could be significant, given the cost for Boeing's current effort to build two new Air Force One planes is over $5 billion. The current Air Force One aeroplanes entered service in 1990. The Air Force One programme has faced chronic delays over the last decade, with the delivery of two new 747-8s slated for 2027, three years behind the previous schedule.
7NEWS
20-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Qatar dismisses concerns over offer of plane to Trump
Qatar has dismissed concerns about its offer to give US President Donald Trump a Boeing plane, saying it's not trying to buy influence, a day after a bill was introduced in the Senate to prevent a foreign aircraft operating as Air Force One. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Tuesday that the offer was 'a normal thing that happens between allies', reiterating that the Gulf Arab country has been a reliable partner to the United States. He said he did not know why people considered the gift as bribery or a way for Qatar to buy influence with the Trump administration. 'But I'm hoping that people in the United States and even the politicians over there, they see us as a friend, as a partner, as a reliable partner that we've always been there for the US whenever we were needed,' he said on Tuesday at the Qatar Economic Forum held in Doha. US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer introduced the Presidential Airlift Security Act after news Trump planned to accept a $US400 million ($A620 million) aeroplane from Qatar, which legal experts said raised a raft of questions about the scope of laws that relate to gifts from foreign governments and are intended to thwart corruption and improper influence. Trump shrugged off ethical concerns, saying it would be 'stupid' to turn down the generous offer. Retrofitting a luxury Boeing 747-8 airplane offered by Qatar's royal family would require security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies listening in and equipment to fend off incoming missiles, experts said. Trump said the Boeing 747-8 would eventually be donated to his presidential library — a repository housing research materials from his administration, and that he had no plans to use it for personal reasons after leaving office. During his visit to Doha on Wednesday, Boeing landed its biggest deal for wide-body planes when state carrier Qatar Airways placed firm orders for 160 jetliners plus options to buy 50 more, a win for Trump on his high-profile trip to the region.
