The Securitization of UNRWA and the Role of Moral Support

The Copenhagen School's securitization theory has been criticized for neglecting the role of the audience (Léonard & Kaunert 2010, pp. 59–61). In response, Thierry Balzacq (2005) reconceptualized the audience into formal and moral support. This thesis adopts his concept of moral support to analyze the securitization of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). On October 28, 2024, Israel banned UNRWA from operating within its territories (BBC 2024), citing national security concerns.Using qualitative content analysis, the thesis examines statements from Israeli politicians and official press releases, alongside responses from the European Union, United Nations, and the United States as providers of moral support. The findings indicate that Israeli politicians securitized UNRWA as an existential threat due to its alleged affiliation with Hamas and perceived risks to national security. Furthermore, the findings reveal that actors providing moral support do not align with the securitization of UNRWA. However, while the EU, UN, and USA publicly support UNRWA and reject its securitization, their actions often do not align with their rhetoric, indicating a form of strategic ambivalence. This suggests that moral support may be more symbolic than decisive. This thesis highlights the increasing politicization of humanitarian organizations like UNRWA and the practical impact of moral support in securitization theory.