The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, in a statement issued by the Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector, said that the Council’s statements represent “a direct targeting of the historical and legal rights of Palestinian refugees,” and fall under political pretexts “that lack any legal or humanitarian basis,” stressing that UNRWA’s mandate was established by UN General Assembly Resolution No. 302 of 1949, and is renewed periodically, and its role cannot be terminated or its mandate diminished.
The university stressed that the continued operation of UNRWA is linked to the continuation of the Palestinian refugee issue until a just and lasting settlement is reached, emphasizing that the agency plays an indispensable humanitarian role in providing relief, education, health and protection services to millions of refugees, especially in the Gaza Strip, which is facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.
In this context, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that UNRWA is "a lifeline, irreplaceable, and a stabilizing factor," stressing the importance of its continued work in the Palestinian territory and rejecting any statements or actions that diminish its role or international mandate.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also rejected the use of terms such as "New Gaza" and "People of Gaza," considering that they aim to fragment Palestinian geography and demography and isolate the Strip from its natural extension, stressing that the Palestinian people are one people and that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the land of the State of Palestine.
The Peace Council announced in a statement on Wednesday that there is no place for UNRWA in what it called the "new Gaza," claiming that its plan aims to end what it described as "continued dependence on aid," and that Palestinians in the sector "deserve more than that."
The “Peace Council” is one of the transitional management structures in Gaza, which was approved by the White House on January 16, in addition to the “Gaza Executive Council,” the “National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (the technocratic government),” and the “International Stabilization Force.”
UNRWA was established in 1949 by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operation: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The agency is facing a worsening financial crisis that threatens its ability to continue its services, at a time when millions of Palestinian refugees depend on its programs in education, health care, relief and social services.
UNRWA is also facing increasing Israeli pressure and measures, along with Israeli accusations against some of its employees, which the agency has denied, while the United Nations has affirmed its commitment to the principle of neutrality.
