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Joint Statement on UNRWA

Joint statement delivered by Spain’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Hector Gómez Hernández on behalf of Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia and Spain at the meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting about UNRWA, at a most critical time for the Agency.

Thank you, Mr. Lazzarini, for addressing the Council.

On behalf of Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia and Spain, I would like to express our full support to you and UNRWA, and salute you for your essential work across the region, most notably in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. I wish to pay special tribute to UNRWA personnel in Gaza for their work and sacrifice in providing assistance and protection to the civilian population. 

We deeply deplored the adoption on 28 October by the Israeli Knesset of legislation aimed at abolishing UNRWA’s activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  If implemented, the legislation aims to suspend UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, hampering UNRWA’s vital operations in Gaza.

We are also deeply concerned about the notification to UNRWA to cease its operations and evacuate its premises in East Jerusalem by 30 January.

We condemn Israel’s withdrawal from the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA and any attempt to obstruct its capacity to operate and carry out its UNGA mandate, consistently extended since UNRWA´s establishment in 1949.

We demand the suspension of the entry into force of those laws, in compliance with international law, the UN Charter and the provisional measures demanded by the International Court of Justice. We urge the Israeli Government to abide by its international obligations and to uphold its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance throughout the OPT and in particular in Gaza.

We support UNRWA as part of our humanitarian commitment and our firm defense and respect of international law, including international humanitarian law.

UNRWA remains more essential than ever. It constitutes the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza and is indispensable in the implementation of the ceasefire to allow for the much-needed scale up of humanitarian relief for thousands of Palestine refugees and civilians.

UNRWA not only provides life-saving support through humanitarian assistance, it also ensures the delivery of essential basic services, such as education and healthcare, that provide dignity and hope for millions of Palestine refugees across the region. Those services will be essential in the reconstruction and stabilization phase.

We reiterate our unwavering commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. We will actively support and engage with international partners on concrete, irreversible steps towards the two-state solution by reviving a political process to this end.

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