The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has firmly rejected allegations published by Israeli media suggesting that it had won a tender issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health to take over responsibilities traditionally managed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Jerusalem.

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In a statement released on Thursday evening, the PRCS reiterated its steadfast commitment to its humanitarian mission and categorically refused to act as a substitute for UNRWA. The organization described ongoing attempts by various parties to involve it in tasks designated to UNRWA or to accept funds previously allocated to the UN agency as “unacceptable.”

The PRCS disclosed that one such attempt involved a reported proposal from the Israeli Ministry of Health, which sought to transfer management of the Bab Al-Zawiya clinic, a medical facility currently operated by UNRWA in Jerusalem, to the PRCS branch in the city.

The proposal allegedly included financial incentives for taking over the clinic’s operations.

The organization reaffirmed its rejection of any role that would undermine the mandate or function of UNRWA, which it described as a vital institution for Palestinian refugees. “We are committed to upholding our independent humanitarian mission and will not participate in any initiatives that seek to weaken or replace the role of UNRWA,” the PRCS statement emphasized.

The PRCS’s stance underscores the broader political sensitivities surrounding the status of Palestinian refugees and the critical role UNRWA plays in providing essential services to Palestinian communities in Jerusalem and beyond.

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