At UNSC, Pakistan Warns Against Dismantling UNRWA

Pakistan's UN envoy says Israel wants to erode the identity of the Palestinian people.

Wed Jan 29 2025
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NEW YORK: Pakistan has warned the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) against the consequences of dismantling the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that provides crucial aid to Palestinian refugees.

The statement was made by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, during a briefing on the aid agency at the UNSC, Radio Pakistan reports.

The envoy stated that by targeting the UNRWA, Israel sought to “dismantle not only the structures that are vital to providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people but also to erode the identity of Palestinian people and the rights they possess”.

He termed the role of UNRWA as being critical to the successful implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, the provision of adequate humanitarian assistance, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Israel’s envoy to the UN on Tuesday said that his country will cease all contact with UNRWA and any other body acting on its behalf, after repeatedly accusing the organisation of undermining its security.

UNRWA’s offices and staff in Israel play a major role in the provision of health care and education to Palestinians, but Israeli officials have long clashed with the agency.

ALSO READ: Israel Defies UN and Vows to Cut Ties with UNRWA with US Blessing

“Israel will terminate all collaboration, communication, and contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf,” said Danny Danon ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Israel’s passage of legislation ending the organisation’s legal footing in Israel within 48 hours.

Israel claims that a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023 attack which the agency has strongly denied.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said the agency’s “capacity to directly provide primary health care for millions of Palestinians, and to resume education for hundreds of thousands of children, far exceeds that of any other entity.”

He called Israel’s actions against UNRWA a “relentless assault” that is “harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory.”

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 47,317 people in the besieged enclave, the majority civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.

A ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas is now in place, intended to bring an end to the more than 15 months of war.

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