New York, January 29, 2025: Pakistan has raised concerns over the potential dismantling of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides crucial aid to Palestinian refugees.
Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, issued the warning during a briefing at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the role of the aid agency. According to Radio Pakistan, Ambassador Akram warned that efforts to undermine UNRWA would not only disrupt the agency’s humanitarian work but also threaten the Palestinian identity and their rights.
“By targeting UNRWA, Israel aims to dismantle structures that are vital for providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people,” Ambassador Akram stated. “This effort seeks to erode both their identity and the rights they are entitled to.”
He emphasized the critical role that UNRWA plays in implementing ceasefire agreements, delivering humanitarian assistance, and aiding in the reconstruction of Gaza.
The comments came after Israel’s UN ambassador called for the end of UNRWA’s operations, ordering the agency to vacate its premises in Jerusalem by January 30, 2025. In addition, Israeli lawmakers have passed legislation barring UNRWA from operating within Israel and in East Jerusalem, a part of the city annexed by Israel after the 1967 Six-Day War.
Israel has also introduced a law prohibiting contact between Israeli officials and UNRWA. However, the legislation has not explicitly banned the agency’s activities in Gaza or the West Bank.
The future of UNRWA and its vital operations remains a point of tension, with calls from various global actors to ensure continued support for Palestinian refugees in the face of mounting political and legal challenges.
