Pakistan, regional countries condemn Israeli move against UN agency

Pakistan and several Middle Eastern and Asian countries on Friday condemned what they described as an Israeli raid on the headquarters of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem, reaffirming support for the body and calling for sustained international backing.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates said the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) plays an “indispensable role” in assisting millions of Palestinian refugees.

The ministers said UNRWA operates under a mandate given by the international community through a 1949 U.N. General Assembly resolution, providing education, healthcare, social services and emergency aid across the region. They welcomed a recent General Assembly vote extending the agency’s mandate for three years, saying it reflected broad international confidence in its work.

Turning to the latest incident, the statement strongly criticized the storming of UNRWA’s headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, calling it a violation of international law and the inviolability of U.N. premises.

The ministers said the action ran counter to an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on Oct. 22, which they said obliges Israel, as the occupying power, to facilitate the work of UNRWA rather than obstruct it.

They also pointed to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying UNRWA remains central to the delivery of food, relief supplies and basic services through its established network, in line with a recent U.N. Security Council resolution.

UNRWA’s schools and health centers continue to function as a “lifeline” for Gaza’s population, the statement said, despite what it described as extremely difficult operating conditions.

The ministers warned that no other organization has the capacity or on-the-ground presence to replace UNRWA, saying any weakening of its operations would have serious humanitarian, social and political consequences across the region.

They urged donor countries to ensure predictable and sustainable funding for the agency and to provide the political space needed for it to carry out its mandate, saying support for UNRWA was essential to regional stability and the protection of Palestinian refugees’ rights until a lasting solution is achieved under international law.