File Photo: UNRWA workers distribute food and supplies to Palestinians. Photo courtesy of the UNRWA X account.
The UNSC also called on Israel to "abide by its international obligations" and "respect the privileges and immunities" of the agency, a target of vehement Israeli attacks, which came under intensified Israeli political and military attacks since 7 October.
In a statement, the Council called on "all parties to enable UNRWA to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the UN General Assembly, in all areas of operation," saying the agency was the "backbone" of humanitarian relief in war-ravaged Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly blocked aid delivery attempts by UNRWA to the strip since 7 October, killed more than two hundred of its staff, and bombed tens of UNRWA facilities sought as shelter from Palestinians fleeing Israeli airstrikes.
"No organization can replace or substitute UNRWA's capacity and mandate to serve Palestinian refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance," the Council said.
Since its founding by the UN in 1949, UNRWA has provided a lifeline to millions of Palestinian in refugee camps Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip and West Bank, providing basic nutritional, health, and educational services as well as employment opportunities.
The Security Council has struggled to pressure Israel to stop its attacks on UNRWA or reign in Israel since the start of its genocidal war on Gaza as Washington's used its veto power on three different occasions to support Tel Aviv.
But on Wednesday, all Council members including the United States "strongly warned against any attempts to dismantle or diminish UNRWA's operations and mandate."
"Any interruption or suspension of its work would have severe humanitarian consequences for millions of Palestinian refugees who depend on the Agency's services and also implications for the region," it said.
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