In a joint statement, the foreign ministers called the attack a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises, which constitutes an unacceptable escalation and violates the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October.
The advisory opinion, the statement noted, clearly states that Israel, as an occupying power, is under an obligation not to impede the operations of UNRWA and, on the contrary, to facilitate them.
On Monday, Israeli occupation forces stormed the UN agency's headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem, carrying out searches throughout the site.
The raid followed months of attacks by Israeli settlers and politicians on the UNRWA, the only lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees in the occupied territories, which culminated in the enforcement of a government decision banning its operations in East Jerusalem in January.
It also came two days after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted on 6 December to renew the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for another three years. The agency’s current mandate expires in June 2026. The newly approved extension—adopted on Friday with 151 votes in favour, 10 against, and 14 abstentions—will keep UNRWA operating through June 2029.
In their statement, the foreign ministers further reaffirmed the UNRWA’s indispensable role in safeguarding the rights and well-being of Palestinian refugees.
“For decades, UNRWA has carried out a unique mandate entrusted to it by the international community, providing protection, education, health care, social services, and emergency assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in its areas of operation, in accordance with UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 302 (1949),” the statement read.
The statement further stressed that the adoption of the UNGA resolution to renew UNRWA’s mandate for an additional three years, reflects international confidence in the vital role played by the agency and the continuity of its operations.
“In light of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the Ministers underscore the essential role UNRWA plays in delivering humanitarian assistance through its network of distribution centres, ensuring that food, relief items, and basic necessities reach those in need fairly and efficiently, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2803,” the statement added.
The ministers emphasized that UNRWA’s schools and health facilities remain a lifeline for refugee communities in Gaza, continuing to provide education and essential primary health care under extremely challenging conditions.
This, the statement noted, contributes to the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s Plan to end the war in Gaza on the ground and enables the Palestinian people to remain in their land and rebuild their homeland.
“UNRWA’s role is irreplaceable. No other entity possesses the infrastructure, expertise, and field presence required to meet the needs of Palestinian refugees or to ensure continuity of services at the necessary scale,” the statement said.
The ministers affirmed that any weakening of the UN agency’s capacity would have grave humanitarian, social, and political repercussions across the region.
“Accordingly, the ministers call upon the international community to ensure sustainable and adequate funding for UNRWA, and to provide the Agency with the political and operational space needed to continue its vital work in all five fields of operations,” the statement added.
The ministers stressed that supporting UNRWA is a cornerstone of maintaining stability, preserving human dignity, and upholding the rights of Palestinian refugees until a just and lasting solution to their plight is achieved in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including UNGA resolution 194.
Established in 1949, UNRWA serves roughly six million registered Palestinian refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the occupied West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The agency provides education, healthcare, relief and social services, camp infrastructure support, and emergency aid to Palestinian refugees. Demand for its services has surged during Israel's two-year genocidal war on Gaza, with nearly the entire population of the strip—around two million people—relying on the agency for food, shelter, and medical care.
In late 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed legislation de-recognizing UNRWA and banning it from operating in the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli authorities have also stopped renewing visas for the agency’s international staff, leaving oversight of Gaza operations heavily disrupted. Israel has further restricted UNRWA from directly bringing food and other essential supplies into Gaza, forcing the agency to rely on other UN partners to fill the gap. Local Palestinian staff, however, remain the main distributors on the ground.
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