A demonstration by thousands of employees of the United Nations agency that serves Palestinian refugees took place most of Monday, leaving schools, clinics and food distribution centres in the Gaza Strip closed. Those protesting feared job losses among the United Nations Relief and Welfare Agency or UNRWA's 13,000 employees and cuts to services. They marched to the UN headquarters in Gaza City, waving Palestinian flags and brandishing banners that read "Dignity is priceless".

REEM ABU HMEID TEACHER, UNRWA SCHOOL "We are protesting for the right of the refugees, the right of return, we will never give up this right with years and days. The right of return to our occupied lands, it is the duty of UNRWA and the United Nations to provide for us education and medical services."

Palestinians have been angered by a US decision to cut aid to the UNRWA. Washington said on January 16th that it will hold back 65 million US dollars of a 125 million US dollar aid instalment to the agency. The protest comes amid Palestinian anger over President Trump's December 6th decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump has criticised the Palestinian leadership for refusing to meet Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to the region and suggested such behaviour provided grounds for cutting aid.