Jerusalem: The Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry condemned the Israeli Knesset's approval to ban essential services to UNRWA officers, describing it as a 'grave escalation and a crime'.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Ministry released a press statement criticizing the approval by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to cut services such as water and electricity to UNRWA offices. The Ministry emphasized that this act is a direct aggression against the Agency, which holds international legal immunity and plays an indispensable role recognized by international consensus. The statement highlighted that Israel lacks sovereignty over Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, and the Agency.
The Ministry warned that the Knesset's decision impacts not only the agency but also poses a significant threat to the entire international humanitarian system. It described the move as a deliberate attempt to criminalize humanitarian relief amid ongoing actions by Israel, which the Ministry accuses of waging a genocidal war against the Palestinian people.
Furthermore, the Ministry asserted that the plan challenges the international community's credibility and commitment to safeguarding UN institutions from being undermined or subjected to force. It also pointed out that the action constitutes a clear violation of the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion regarding UNRWA.
The Ministry called on the international community, including the United Nations, UN member states, and the United Nations Security Council, to take firm stances and protect the integrity and functioning of UN institutions.
