Egypt has denounced Israel’s recent move to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, calling it an unacceptable disregard for international norms. The ban follows Israeli parliament’s decision last week to outlaw UNRWA’s operations, which provide essential services to Palestinians in Israel and east Jerusalem.
In a statement released on Facebook, Egypt’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s withdrawal from the agreement governing UNRWA operations and warned of serious consequences for vulnerable Palestinians if the humanitarian agency’s services collapse.
Egypt’s statement criticised the ban as an attempt to erase the Palestinian cause and refugee rights, holding Israel fully responsible for the fallout of this decision.
The Arab League also weighed in, with Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit affirming there is no alternative to UNRWA in addressing Palestinian refugee needs.
UNRWA, established in 1949, supports nearly six million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.