Palestinian Foreign Ministry Calls for Not Supporting Israeli Occupation Decision to Ban UNRWA

Ramallah: Palestinian Foreign Ministry has called for not supporting the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to ban the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). A ministry statement on Wednesday emphasized that supporting the immediate implementation of the rights of the Palestinian people ensures the end of the occupation and the embodiment of the Palestinian state on the ground and the right of refugees to return to their homes immediately.

According to Qatar News Agency, the statement asserted that UNRWA cannot be eliminated or dispensed with, in accordance with international law, and the occupying power has no right to make such a decision, particularly since it does not possess any legal sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory. The statement highlighted the role of UNRWA as an international humanitarian mechanism that mitigates the historical injustices faced by the Palestinian people.

The ministry further noted that the compliance of some countries with the occupation’s decision to halt UNRWA’s operations represents a clear and severe violation of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, including the General Assembly resolution that endorsed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This stance underscores the critical importance of UNRWA’s work in supporting Palestinian refugees.

UNRWA recently disclosed that it had received an order from the Israeli occupation authorities to vacate its headquarters and cease all operations in East Jerusalem by Thursday, raising concerns about the impact on humanitarian efforts in the region.