Foreign Ministers have expressed grave concern over legislation
currently under consideration by the Israeli Knesset aimed at
revoking the privileges and immunities of the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
[UNRWA].
“We, the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Australia, France, Germany,
Japan, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom, express our
grave concern over legislation currently under consideration by
the Israeli Knesset, aimed at revoking the privileges and
immunities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East [UNRWA], forbidding any
contact between Israeli state entities, officials and UNRWA, and
prohibiting any UNRWA presence within Israel.
“UNRWA provides essential and life-saving humanitarian aid and
basic services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, East Jerusalem,
the West Bank and throughout the region. Without its work, the
provision of such assistance and services, including education,
health care, and fuel distribution in Gaza and the West Bank
would be severely hampered if not impossible, with devastating
consequences on an already critical and rapidly deteriorating
humanitarian situation, particularly in northern Gaza.
“It is crucial that UNRWA and other UN organizations and agencies
be fully able to deliver humanitarian aid and their assistance to
those who need it most, fulfilling their mandates effectively. We
urge the Israeli Government to abide by its international
obligations, keep the reserve privileges and immunities of UNRWA
untouched and live up to its responsibility to facilitate full,
rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its
forms as well as the provision of sorely needed basic services to
the civilian population.
“We once again condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal
and unjustified terror attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7,
2023. UNRWA has taken steps to address allegations regarding
individual employees' support for terrorist organizations and
demonstrated its willingness to pursue and implement reform of
internal processes in line with the independent review of April
2024, led by Ms. Catherine Colonna, on UNRWA neutrality. We call
on UNRWA to continue its path of reform as a priority,
demonstrating its commitment to the principle of neutrality, and
ensure that its activities remain entirely in line with its
mandate. We will continue to actively monitor and support this
process.”
