The Arab League strongly condemned statements attributed to the so‑called “Peace Council” claiming that “there is no place for UNRWA in the new Gaza,” and calling for the termination of the agency’s mandate under political pretexts lacking any legal or humanitarian basis.
In a statement issued Wednesday by the Department of Palestine and the Occupied Arab Territories, the Arab League said the remarks constitute a direct attack on the historical and legal rights of Palestinian refugees, in violation of international law and United Nations resolutions.
The League stressed that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was established under UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (1949), and its mandate is renewed periodically by the General Assembly.
The statement emphasized that no state or political body has the authority to end or reduce the agency’s mandate, which remains legally tied to the unresolved status of Palestinian refugees and the absence of a just and lasting solution.
The Arab League highlighted UNRWA’s indispensable humanitarian role, including relief assistance, education, healthcare, and protection services for millions of Palestinian refugees across its five fields of operation.
It noted that the agency is a central mechanism for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, where civilians face an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe marked by mass displacement, widespread hunger, collapsed medical infrastructure, and ongoing Israeli military invasions.
The statement added that recent political campaigns targeting UNRWA — including attempts by certain governments and organizations to defund or delegitimize the agency — represent coordinated efforts to undermine refugee rights, despite the absence of any UN resolution altering the agency’s legal status.
The League underscored that multiple UN investigations have reaffirmed that UNRWA’s mandate remains intact, and that the agency continues to operate under direct UN oversight.
The Arab League warned that efforts to dismantle or weaken UNRWA come at a time when Palestinians need its services more than ever, particularly in Gaza, where the population is facing extreme deprivation and relies on the agency for food distribution, shelter assistance, medical support, and basic protection.
The statement called on the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities by safeguarding UNRWA, rejecting political pressure aimed at eliminating its role, and ensuring sustained financial and operational support.
It stressed that any attempt to undermine the agency constitutes an assault on the rights of Palestinian refugees and on the international legal framework that guarantees their protection until a just solution is achieved.
