Mon. Feb 10th, 2025

NNA – The following is a statement by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Israeli legislation on UNRWA:nbsp;nbsp;quot;I amnbsp;deeply concernednbsp;by the adoptionnbsp;todaynbsp;bynbsp;the Knesset of Israelnbsp;ofnbsp;twonbsp;lawsnbsp;concerning thenbsp;Unitednbsp;Nationsnbsp;Relief andnbsp;Worksnbsp;Agency for Palestine Refugeesnbsp;in the Near East (UNRWA),nbsp;which, if implemented, would likely prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as mandated by the UNnbsp;General Assembly. nbsp;

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UNRWA isnbsp;the principal means by which essentialnbsp;assistancenbsp;is supplied to Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. nbsp;There isnbsp;nonbsp;alternative to UNRWA.

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The implementation of thenbsp;laws could have devastating consequences for Palestine refugeesnbsp;in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is unacceptable. I call onnbsp;Israel to act consistently with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and its othernbsp;obligations under international law, including undernbsp;internationalnbsp;humanitarian law andnbsp;those concerning privileges andnbsp;immunities of the United Nations. nbsp;National legislation cannot alter those obligations.

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Thenbsp;implementation of these laws would benbsp;detrimental fornbsp;the resolution of thenbsp;Israeli-Palestiniannbsp;conflict and for peace and security in thenbsp;region as a whole. As I said before, UNRWA is indispensable.

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Inbsp;amnbsp;bringingnbsp;this matter to the attention of the UNnbsp;General Assembly,nbsp;andnbsp;will keep the Assembly closely informed as the situation develops.quot; — UNICnbsp;

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