Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Regional foreign ministers affirm critical role of UNRWA
Foreign Ministers from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have reaffirmed the indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in protecting the rights and well-being of Palestinian refugees.
In a joint statement, the ministers highlighted UNRWA’s decades-long mandate, entrusted by the international community under UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (1949), to provide protection, education, healthcare, social services, and emergency assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees.
The ministers strongly condemned the recent storming of UNRWA’s headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, describing the incident as a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises. They cited the October 2025 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clearly obligates Israel, as the occupying power, not to hinder UNRWA’s operations.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, the ministers underscored the agency’s essential role in delivering food, relief, and basic needs through its distribution centers, schools, and health facilities. They emphasized that any reduction in the agency’s capacity would have serious humanitarian and regional repercussions.
The ministers urged the international community to provide sustainable and adequate funding for UNRWA and ensure the agency can operate freely across all its fields of operation. They stressed that continued support for UNRWA is key to regional stability, maintaining human dignity, and upholding the rights of Palestinian refugees until a comprehensive and just resolution is achieved in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.