President,
We thank you for holding this urgent meeting at the request of Norway and other members of the UNRWA Shared Commitments core group. We thank the Commissioner-General for his briefing at this extremely difficult time.
The backdrop against which this meeting takes place could not be more dire. I would like to express our sincere condolences for the loss of lives of dedicated UNRWA staff. Humanitarian workers and civilians must never be targets. International law must always be respected. The situation in the Middle East remains detrimental. The death toll continues to rise, particularly in Gaza, but also in the West Bank and Lebanon.
UNWRA has provided essential humanitarian services to Palestinian refugees for decades. No other organization can assume its functions. The laws adopted by the Knesset, if implemented, would have devastating consequences. It would also set a very dangerous precedent for the UN and the multilateral system as a whole.
The timing of these laws is beyond shocking. 15 principals of UN and Humanitarian organisations describe the situation in North Gaza as apocalyptic. Let there be no doubt. UNRWA is the backbone of the entire international community’s humanitarian response in Gaza. All humanitarian organizations in Gaza are effectively dependent on UNRWA’s infrastructure and facilitation. No one can fulfil UNRWA’s responsibilities in addressing the fundamental needs of Palestinian refugees. For food, protection, shelter, health care and education. In Gaza, in the West Bank and beyond.
Once again, we see efforts to undermine the foundation for a two-state solution and diminish hopes for a long-term peaceful resolution to the conflict. This time, they are aimed at UNRWA’s ability to perform its core duties, not least UNRWA’s protection of the status of Palestine Refugees.
We remind Israel that the ICJ, in its Advisory Opinion of 19 July, explicitly concluded that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal and must be brought to an end. At the same time, the Court emphasized that Israel continues to be bound by the obligations incumbent on it as an occupying power. A central element of those obligations is to administer the occupied area for the benefit of the local population. By the Knesset’s recent decisions, essential services for the protection of millions of Palestine refugees will be severely impacted.
The international community cannot accept that the UN, international humanitarian organizations, and member states face systematic obstacles when working in Palestine and delivering humanitarian assistance to Palestinians under occupation. This undermines the right of Palestinians to receive lifesaving assistance.
The international community has a responsibility to respond. UNRWA is mandated by the General Assembly, and the General Assembly should respond. On behalf of a group of concerned member states, Norway has taken steps to initiate a resolution before the Assembly requesting the ICJ to provide an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations in relation to the activities of the UN and other international organisations and third states, that provide humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian population. We urge all countries to support this initiative.
President,
Much will depend on the steps that the Government of Israel now chooses to take. We urge the Government of Israel to listen to our words of caution and deep concern. We urge you to ensure that human rights, justice, and peace remain at the forefront of any legal framework, and that all actions taken respect the dignity and rights of all people in the region.
We urge you to ensure continued and unhindered humanitarian access for UNRWA to the Palestine refugees that it was set up to serve.
No one can take on UNRWA's responsibilities in meeting the fundamental needs of Palestinians, in Gaza and beyond. A collapse of UNRWA will only destabilize the region further.
I thank you.