ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine welcomes the outcomes of the annual conference of the United Nations Relief and Works Organization for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which was held at the United Nations – New York, and the international consensus to join the Joint Commitments Initiative launched by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Kuwait, and Slovenia in full cooperation and coordination with the State of Palestine, aiming to support the Agency ( UNRWA), in facing political and financial challenges, and emphasizing its vital role in providing services to Palestinian refugees, and as a pillar of regional stability.
The Ministry affirms that Palestinian diplomacy continues its efforts to expose the crimes of the occupation and deepen international, popular and official solidarity with our people at all levels in countries and at the level of the United Nations and its relevant councils, organizations, institutions and specialized agencies.
In this regard, it thanked the countries and international bodies that provided financial contributions, and those that expressed their support. Political and financial support for the continuation of UNRWA’s work at this particularly difficult time, until the legitimate rights of our refugee people are achieved, most importantly their right to return to their homes from which they were displaced in implementation of Resolution 194.
The Ministry confirms that what UNRWA has been exposed to since the beginning of the genocide, especially with regard to the killing of hundreds of its employees, the destruction of its centers and schools, and the obstruction of its work and ability to move and perform its tasks, especially in the northern Gaza Strip, is considered a systematic implementation of the forced displacement plan, and attempts to change the demographic character in The Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, and its fully known nature, and a direct targeting of the Palestinian cause and the rights of our people, especially the right of return.
The Ministry recalls the historical responsibility of the United Nations, and the duties of states towards ending the long-standing suffering of the Palestinian people, and considering the issue of Palestinian refugees as one of the longest and oldest tribulations, primarily caused by the illegal Israeli occupation and colonization, and that the continued suffering and absence of justice for Palestinian refugees is the reason for the continued existence of UNRWA, and called for Sustaining its funding until the rights of the Palestinian refugees are achieved, especially their inalienable right to return, and the end of the Nakba of the Palestinian people that has been ongoing since 1948.
The Ministry reaffirms the important role assigned to the United Nations General Assembly to preserve UNRWA, as it is the most important institution to protect, support, develop and develop the lives of Palestinian refugees and their human security, in addition to preserving it from being undermined, and called for a larger contribution from the United Nations budget, at a time when it is clear that UNRWA is in need.
To greater resources from the United Nations, and the need to work to reverse the trend of reducing funding and secure it as quickly as possible so that its services in all fields do not stop, which undermines its existence, and the consequences of this are long-term.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine thanks the countries hosting refugees, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, and expressed its deep gratitude to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly, and the Commissioner-General of UNRWA for their efforts in finding a sustainable solution to maintain UNRWA’s funding.
Palestine Condemns the Occupation Massacres in Al-Mawasi and Al-Shati Camp
