Israeli Knesset's legislation against UNRWA is a profound violation of international law

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine strongly condemns the Israeli Knesset’s recent legislation aimed at undermining the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The Ministry asserts that the Knesset’s decision represents an additional offense against the international system, as well as a targeted attack on Palestinian rights and those who support them.

The Ministry affirms that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied State of Palestine, including Jerusalem, and highlights that UNRWA’s presence and operations are welcomed under an agreement between the State of Palestine and the UN. The new legislation seeks to ban UNRWA’s work in occupied Jerusalem, undermining the agency’s mission and threatening vital services for Palestinian refugees, particularly amid the genocidal war being waged against the Palestinian people.

The Ministry strongly denounces Israel’s continuous attempts to dismantle UNRWA, deeming the Knesset’s actions an assault on the United Nations and a breach of Israel’s obligations as a UN member. This legislation is viewed as part of a systematic Israeli strategy to delegitimize UNRWA’s role in highlighting the historical injustice of the Nakba and to eliminate the Palestinian refugee issue and the right of return guaranteed by UN General Assembly Resolution 194.

The Ministry reaffirms that UNRWA and its employees are protected under international law and considers the Israeli measures to be illegal, null, and void. These actions violate the UN's privileges and immunities under various international agreements, including the UN General Assembly's Resolutions 302, which established UNRWA, and 194, affirming the right of return for Palestinian refugees. They also contradict the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion upholding Palestinian rights to self-determination and sovereignty.

The Ministry reiterates its opposition to any attempts to undermine, replace, or reduce UNRWA’s funding, emphasizing that UNRWA is a lifeline for over 5.9 million Palestinian refugees, providing essential services in education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid, crucial for regional stability until the right of return is fulfilled.

The Ministry warns of the catastrophic consequences these laws could have on Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, and other UNRWA operating areas. The Ministry calls on the international community to take immediate, decisive action against these discriminatory laws to protect the Palestinian people, UNRWA, and other international organizations operating in the occupied territories, ensuring they can continue delivering essential services under their mandated responsibilities.