DaysofPal- The foreign ministers of 11 countries on Wednesday condemned Israeli demolition of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem, describing the move as an unprecedented attack on a United Nations agency.
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom signed the joint statement.
The ministers said the demolition constitutes an unacceptable action by a UN member state that threatens UNRWA’s ability to carry out its mandate.
They called on the Israeli occupation to respect its international obligations to protect the inviolability of UN premises, in accordance with the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the UN Charter, and to halt all demolitions targeting UN property immediately.
The statement reaffirmed the countries’ full support for UNRWA’s essential role in providing humanitarian assistance and basic services to Palestinians throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.
The ministers welcomed UNRWA’s reform efforts and its implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Colonna Report, stressing that the agency delivers critical healthcare, education, and humanitarian services to millions of Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and must be allowed to operate without obstruction.
They also voiced concern over Israeli legislation passed by the Knesset that prohibits contact between the Israeli occupation and UNRWA, effectively blocking the agency’s presence in the Israeli occupation and Jerusalem.
The measures, they noted, also deny UNRWA facilities access to basic services such as electricity, water, and gas.
The statement urged the Israeli occupation to fully meet its obligations under international law to facilitate humanitarian assistance to Gaza, warning that despite an increase in aid deliveries, conditions remain catastrophic and supplies fall far short of what is required.
The countries called for urgent steps to enable the immediate, safe, and unhindered expansion of humanitarian aid and services across Gaza and the West Bank, in line with international humanitarian law.
They further emphasized the need to allow international non-governmental organizations to operate freely in Gaza, including easing restrictive registration requirements and reopening all border crossings, including the Rafah crossing in both directions.
The ministers also urged the Israeli occupation to lift restrictions on the entry of humanitarian goods, including items designated as “dual-use,” which are vital for relief operations and early recovery.
Israeli bulldozers demolished facilities within the UNRWA compound in Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood on January 20.
In October 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed legislation formally banning UNRWA’s activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, citing allegations that some agency employees were involved in the events of October 7, 2023.
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