United Nations (TDI): Pakistan has warned that Israel’s recent legislation to shut down the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) will lead to widespread chaos, leaving millions of Palestinians in Gaza without essential services.
During a debate at the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, Pakistani delegate Ansar Shah condemned Israel’s actions, calling them a violation of international law and the UN Charter.
“The delegitimization and demonization of UNRWA must be stopped immediately. Concrete actions must be taken to ensure the agency remains operational and continues to fulfill its humanitarian mandate,” Shah emphasized.
He stressed the grave consequences of Israel’s move, which would cut off vital services such as education, healthcare, and social support, plunging Gaza’s population into an even deeper crisis.
Israel’s Knesset recently adopted two bills that prohibit UNRWA from operating in Israeli-controlled territories, effectively halting any contact between the agency and Israeli authorities.
Pakistan called this development a “flagrant violation” of international law, underscoring the importance of upholding human rights and justice for the Palestinian people.
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Shah urged the international community to act swiftly, warning that if UNRWA collapses, it would leave millions of Palestinians without hope, with devastating impacts on Gaza’s already dire humanitarian situation.
“We must answer the call of the Palestinian people,” he said.
UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, who opened the debate, warned of catastrophic consequences if the agency’s operations were dismantled.
The agency, which provides education, healthcare, and social services to Palestinian refugees, is already grappling with severe challenges due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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Lazzarini reported that at least 243 UNRWA personnel have been killed and two-thirds of its facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed in the ongoing war.
He also rejected claims that the agency had been infiltrated by Hamas, calling such allegations part of a global disinformation campaign.
Lazzarini emphasized that the agency’s neutrality framework is robust and independent reviews had confirmed this. If UNRWA is unable to operate, the responsibility to provide services would fall on Israel as the occupying power, he noted.
Human Loss in Gaza
Highlighting the grim reality on the ground, Lazzarini reported that over 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza, with many more trapped under rubble.
He also pointed out that 660,000 children in Gaza are unable to attend school, their education interrupted by the brutal conflict.
The humanitarian crisis extends beyond Gaza, with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan also dependent on UNRWA’s assistance.
In conclusion, Lazzarini urged the immediate release of Israeli hostages still in captivity, calling for an end to the suffering of all civilians in the region.
