Arab League Council urges support for UNRWA, condemns Israel’s ban of agency's operation

AMMAN — The Arab League Council on Monday called on donor countries to fulfil their financial commitments to UNRWA, emphasising the relief agency's indispensable role and critical services for Palestinian refugees. 

Following an extraordinary session, held at Jordan's request, the council issued a statement calling for empowering UNRWA to be able to maintain its life-saving operations, rejecting Israel's "unlawful" decision to ban the agency's work in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

Jordan’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ambassador Amjad Adaileh reiterated Jordan’s unwavering support for UNRWA and the diplomatic efforts it exerts at the regional and international levels to ensure unaltered assistance for the relief agency.  

The statement also underscored the significance of the Joint Pledging Initiative for UNRWA, launched by Jordan, Kuwait, and Slovenia in May 2024, which has garnered support from 123 countries. 

The council also strongly condemned Israel’s disregard for international demands to stop its illegal measures against UNRWA, warning that any Israeli actions obstructing the agency’s vital operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in East Jerusalem and Gaza, "would have catastrophic consequences for refugees, as no other entity can replace UNRWA’s services."

It also reiterated that Israel has no sovereignty over East Jerusalem or any territory occupied since June 5, 1967, and has no authority to impose administrative or legal changes in these areas under international law.

The Arab League Council also stressed that Israel’s ongoing attempts to delegitimise UNRWA are "part of a broader effort to undermine the two-state solution and eliminate Palestinian refugees’ rights to return and compensation, as stipulated by international resolutions."

The council also warned of the dire humanitarian consequences if UNRWA’s services were disrupted, particularly in Gaza, "where the international community is racing against time to provide aid amid severe food shortages resulting from Israel’s continued aggression."

The statement also called on UN member states to uphold their legal responsibilities to UN General Assembly resolution on supporting the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and rejecting any legal recognition of Israel’s illegal presence and demographic alterations in the occupied territories.