Safadi, Lazzarini discuss urgent actions against Israeli threats to UNRWA

Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayman Safadi, met today with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to address Israel's recent threats against the agency's existence and operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. During the meeting, Safadi expressed Jordan's firm rejection and condemnation of proposed bills in the Israeli Knesset aimed at undermining UNRWA's status. He labeled these initiatives as blatant violations of international law that deprive Palestinians of essential rights and services provided by the agency. Safadi emphasized the urgent need for the international community to counter these threats, warning that allowing Israel to target UNRWA would exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians by restricting access to fundamental services such as food, healthcare, and education, particularly amidst ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza. Highlighting UNRWA's indispensab le role, Safadi cautioned that Israel's actions reflect a broader agenda to erase the Palestinian refugee issue, which must be addressed in accordance with international resolutions that ensure the right of return and compensation for refugees. Both officials agreed on the necessity of regional and international efforts to confront these challenges through legal and political means, stressing the importance of bolstering financial and political support for UNRWA to continue delivering critical services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA