Israeli occupation forces have seized control of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Israeli government plans to build 1,440 settlement units on the site.
According to the Middle East Eye, the announcement comes a day after members of the United Nations Security Council warned Israel against proceeding with a law, promoted by Iloz and others, aimed at curbing UNRWA’s ability to operate.
The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved two bills on Sunday which effectively aim at ending UNRWA’s activity and privileges in Israel.
The US envoy to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, warned that the bill risked “hindering its ability to communicate with Israeli officials and removing privileges and immunities afforded to UN organizations and personnel around the globe”.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned in a statement on Saturday that “the continuation of the systematic Israeli targeting campaign against the agency aims to dismantle it and deprive millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria of its essential services, in addition to liquidating the issue of Palestinian refugees and their right to return to their areas and homes, which is guaranteed by international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, specifically UN General Assembly resolutions 194 and 237.”
The Ministry also stressed that the Israeli occupation’s efforts to liquidate UNRWA are a link in a chain of reprehensible targeting of the United Nations itself, including those working in its various organizations, affirming in this context that this dangerous situation puts the international community before a real test, which requires immediate action to confront it firmly .
The State of Qatar’s full support for UNRWA, based on its firm and supportive position towards the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, foremost of which is their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
