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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday condemned attempts by Israeli authorities to undermine efforts of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees by labelling it a terrorist organization.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Israeli criticism of UNRWA seeks to strip “immunity from employees who are doing their duty to alleviate the severity of the humanitarian catastrophe that the Palestinian people are going through.”
The ministry said that Israel must abide by international law and stop obstructing the work of international organizations.
Qatar also condemned Israel's attempted to classify UNRWA as a terrorist organization, viewing it as an extension of a systematic campaign aimed at dismantling the agency, which is increasingly needed due to the catastrophic repercussions of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement on Sunday, Qatar call for the international community to stand firmly against Israeli plans to liquidate the agency, which would deprive millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon of its essential services.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also condemned the Israeli, with spokesman Sufyan Al-Qudah on Saturday calling the move illegal and a violation of international law.
Al-Qudah urged the international community to act promptly to protect the Palestinian people and support the vital role UNRWA is playing in providing services to Palestinian refugees. He emphasized the importance of the refugee agency’s mandate, as granted by the international body, and called for continued global support.
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi also condemned Israel’s actions, saying the Israeli occupation must facilitate UNWRA’s work in accordance with international and humanitarian resolutions.
The Muslim World League has also strongly rejected Israel’s designation of UNRWA as a terrorist organization, viewing it as an attempt to undermine the agency’s humanitarian efforts.
The MWL emphasized that Israel, as an occupying force, must adhere to international laws and norms, including its obligations concerning the work of international organizations.
On Friday, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini called on Israel to stop its campaign against the organization, saying: “Israeli officials are not only threatening the work of our staff and mission, they are also delegitimising UNRWA by effectively characterising it as a terrorist organization that fosters extremism and labelling UN leaders as terrorists who collude with Hamas.”
UNRWA, which coordinates nearly all aid to Gaza, has been in crisis since January, when Israel accused about a dozen of its 13,000 Gaza employees of being involved in the Oct. 7 attack.
(With AFP)