United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday that the Israeli occupation newly approved law banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating within its borders and occupied east al-Quds could lead to “devastating consequences for Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is unacceptable.”
“I call on Israel to act consistently with its obligations under the Charter of the; international law. National legislation cannot alter those obligations.” Antonio Guterres said.
“There is no alternative to UNRWA,” he said. “The implementation of these laws would be detrimental to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for peace and security in the region as a whole.” Antonio Guterres stated on the social platform X
The Secretary-General further pledged to bring the issue before the UN General Assembly, the United Nation’s main body.
The Israeli Parliament (Knesset) passed a law on Monday prohibiting the UNRWA from working in “Israel,” further hindering its efforts to aid the Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Earlier, The governments of Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, and Norway condemned the approval by Israel’s parliament (Knesset) of legislation that prevents UNRWA from operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the communiqué says. “UNRWA has a mandate from the UN General Assembly.”
The agency’s work is important for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region, particularly in the current context in Gaza, the statement said, and the Israeli initiative “creates a very serious precedent for the work of the UN and all organizations of the multilateral system.”
Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain will continue to work with donor and host countries to ensure the viability of UNRWA’s work and its humanitarian role. This was stated in a joint statement by the four countries, which was distributed by the Spanish Foreign Ministry
