Joint statement, delivered by the Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations, Samuel Žbogar, on behalf of the Core Group of Shared Commitments on UNRWA, at the Fourth Committee General Debate on UNRWA

Thank you Mr. Chair.

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the members of the core group of shared commitments on UNRWA.

We thank the Commissioner-General for his presentation today and above all, we thank him for his dedication to implementing the UNRWA mandate and mission.

We reaffirm our full support to the shared commitments, which gathered the support of more than 120 signatories.

Mr. Chair,

We welcome the ceasefire in Gaza and the work of the mediators – Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States.

We further welcome international efforts towards a just and sustainable political solution to the question of Palestine. Those includes a multitude of processes, including the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, culminating in the adoption of the New York Declaration, which is rooted in and reaffirms the core United Nations resolutions relevant to the question of Palestine. The Declaration underlines, inter alia, UNRWA’s indispensable role, while it also affirms that UNRWA shall hand over its public-like services in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to empowered and prepared Palestinian institutions upon the achievement of a just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue to be agreed upon in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194.

We also welcome the latest Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations, and third states in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Court authoritative determinations on Israel’s obligations reaffirm essential principles of international humanitarian and human rights laws in this context and provide clarity on a variety of issues, including confirming UNRWA’s neutrality and reaffirming the obligation of Israel, as the occupying Power, to allow UNRWA to operate in accordance with international humanitarian law and the UN Charter – a call that we fully support. It also reaffirmed that UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip.

We welcome the leadership by Secretary-General Guterres, including by mandating an independent review, which provided the so-called “Colonna Report” and most recently the Strategic Assessment on UNRWA, which reaffirms UNRWA’s unique, indispensable and outstanding role including the Agency’s contribution to regional stability, sustainable political solutions and to peace and security going forward. We welcome the ongoing process of implementation of the Colonna recommendations and regular information provided by the Agency in this regard.

It is clear that the debate today comes at a time of many changes in the region. In the midst of those changes, UNRWA was, once again, a constant. In Gaza, a lifeline for those seeking life-saving humanitarian aid and shelter and a vital support for any viable political plan and stabilization in a post-ceasefire period. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, UNRWA also remained vital for refugee communities and as a support to the Palestinian government; and in its other areas of operation – Jordan, Lebanon and Syria – an indispensable partner to host authorities for a wide range of services.

Yet, the Agency faces severe obstacles and challenges. Israeli legislation negatively impacting UNRWA remains in place despite clear and repeated calls by the UN membership for the reversal of such decisions. The General Assembly cannot accept that a United Nations Agency, created by and a subsidiary organ of the Assembly, is blocked from fulfilling its mandate. We reiterate our demand to Israel to reverse this legislation and refrain from pursuing further legislative proposals on the table violating international law, UN resolutions and Israel’s Charter obligations.

In addition to UNRWA’s political and operational constraints, the Agency’s financial challenges also remain acute, with a massive funding gap until the end of March, as we just heard from the Commissioner-General. We urge Member States to increase their financial support to UNRWA to help bridge this funding gap and ensure the continuity of its operations to deliver humanitarian and development assistance to 6 million Palestinian refugees in its five fields of operation and to continue making its contribution to stability in the region.

Mr. Chair,

We wholeheartedly welcome the political momentum that is undoubtedly offering an opportunity for peace in the Middle East. We reiterate our unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace premised on the two-State solution – based on the 1967 lines, with Israel and an independent State of Palestine living side by side, in peace and security, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.

We know that arriving to this peace will not be easy. In achieving this peace, we need all hands on deck. We need engagement and support of Member States on a bilateral level; experiences of regional organizations, resounding multilateral support and commitment of political leaders. We need diplomatic, political, humanitarian, financial and technical efforts for the long-term. In doing so, we might need to develop certain new mechanisms but we primarily need to rely on what has worked so far. And UNRWA has worked and works. From healthcare provided to mothers, education for hundreds of thousands of children, training for youth and services for community, and humanitarian relief in times of emergency and crisis, UNRWA is part and parcel of the communities it serves and the broader societies within which they exist.

But UNRWA is crucial also for what is yet to come. It has the necessary expertise, capacity and workforce not only for the immediate scaling up of humanitarian aid into and inside Gaza, as well as to address the increasingly dire humanitarian conditions of Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in the face of the occupation’s escalating violations and settler attacks. But also restoring basic public services during the period of rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction. It is an Agency enjoying public trust and community engagement crucial for stabilization of Gaza and stability of the larger region. Its personnel, databases and premises provide a solid foundation for capacity building of Palestinian institutions that will serve as the foundation of an independent Palestinian State. In the immediate term, UNRWA is essential to stabilization in Gaza; stabilization cannot be achieved through a stabilization force alone. And all of these things must be delivered now and at scale – there is no time to lose. Millions of civilians are in dire need, suffering starvation and famine, displacement and the traumatic impact of two years of unprecedented suffering, and UNRWA is already on the ground and ready to support recovery and healing and to continue and resume basic services it has long provided, including schooling, health services and WASH.

Mr. Chair,

For all of these reasons above, our group remains convinced that UNRWA is essential and indispensable. We therefore fully support renewal of the mandate and urge all delegations to extend their support to ensure the continuity of its indispensable role and life-saving services.

Thank you.

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