Khaberni - Jordan and other Arab and Islamic countries affirmed on Friday the indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in protecting the rights of the Palestinian refugees and caring for their affairs.
The Foreign Ministers of Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt stated that UNRWA has executed a unique mandate over decades, entrusted to it by the international community, focusing on protecting refugees and providing educational, health, social services, and emergency assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in its operational areas, in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 302 of 1949. The adoption of the UN General Assembly's resolution to renew UNRWA's mandate for an additional three years reflects the international confidence in the vital role the agency plays and the continuity of its operations.
The ministers condemned the Israeli forces’ raid on the UNRWA headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, which represents a blatant violation of international law and the sanctity of United Nations premises, and is considered an unacceptable escalation, contradicting the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on October 22, 2025, which clearly stipulates Israel's obligation as an occupying power not to hinder UNRWA's operations but, on the contrary, to facilitate them.
In light of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza Strip, the ministers affirmed the essential role that the agency plays in distributing humanitarian aid through its distribution network, ensuring that food, relief materials, and basic necessities reach the deserving efficiently and justly, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2803. UNRWA's schools and health facilities are lifelines for the refugee community in Gaza, where they continue to support education and provide essential health care services despite extremely difficult conditions, supporting the implementation of President Trump's plan on the ground and enabling Palestinians to remain in their land and build their nation.
They affirmed that UNRWA's role is irreplaceable; no other entity possesses the infrastructure, expertise, and field presence necessary to meet the needs of Palestinian refugees or to ensure the continuity of service delivery on the required scale, and that any weakening of the agency's ability would have severe humanitarian, social, and political ramifications for the region as a whole.
The ministers called on the international community to ensure adequate and sustainable funding for the agency, and to grant it the necessary political and operational space to continue its vital work in all five of its operating areas, as supporting UNRWA is a fundamental pillar for maintaining stability, preserving human dignity, and ensuring the rights of Palestinian refugees until a just and lasting solution to their issue is reached in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 194.
