Hawzah News Agency- “We condemn Israel’s withdrawal from the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA and any attempt to obstruct its capacity to operate and carry out its UNGA mandate,” the group said in a joint statement to the UNSC.

The bloc also demanded the “suspension of the entry into force” of the Israeli laws banning UNRWA, which they said did not comply with international law and the UN Charter.

“We support UNRWA as part of our humanitarian commitment and our firm defense and respect of international law, including international humanitarian law,” they said.

Majority of UNSC members ‘steadfastly support’ agency’s work: UNRWA

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says the “majority” of UN Security Council (UNSC) members “expressed their steadfast support” for the organization, whose operations Israel is scheduled to ban tomorrow.

In a post on social media, UNRWA said the UNSC members had expressed grave concern over Israel’s plans to shut down its office in occupied East Jerusalem, which would prevent it from providing “essential services” to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including East al-Quds.

However, one permanent member of the UNSC, the US, did not express such concern.

US deputy ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, told the council meeting that there were other humanitarian organizations that could do UNRWA’s job.

The claim comes as the Trump administration said it supports Israel’s decision to close UNRWA’s office in East al-Quds – a move condemned by the UN, aid groups, and several governments.

Source: Aljazeera