Chair,
We thank the Commissioner-General for his remarks, but first and foremost we thank him and his entire team for its dedication to implementing UNRWA’s mandate and mission in the most pressing of times.
Norway commends UNRWA for its unwavering commitment and remarkable efforts under extremely challenging circumstances, including operating in Palestine under political pressure and severe operational constraints.
Despite these obstructions, including legislative constraints and the tragic loss of staff members, the Agency remains operative and has continued to deliver – and is still delivering - basic services within health and education in all its fields of operation.
Norway encourages collective diplomatic engagement to secure predictable humanitarian access in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and to protect UNRWA personnel and premises as well as UNRWA’s operational space.
The safety of its personnel and installations must be ensured.
Chair,
The International Court of Justice, in its Advisory Opinion of 22. October, clearly states that UNRWA must be allowed to operate, and that Israel is obliged as an occupying power to facilitate the presence of the UN, its specialized agencies, other international organizations and third states that provide humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian population.
Norway stresses the centrality of UNRWA as an indispensable humanitarian and stabilizing actor until a just and lasting political solution is realised.
The strategic assessment of UNRWA has also recently emphasized and reaffirmed the Agency’s unique and indispensable role for Palestine refugees, but also its contribution to regional security.
Close coordination between donors, host governments, and the UN system remains essential to prevent service disruption, particularly in education, health, and emergency relief.
UNRWA should be recognized, and enabled, as a key actor in the political transition to a future political solution.
We the Member States must ensure that the Agency’s role is fully supported and integrated throughout the ongoing ceasefire process, given its central contribution to stability and the continuity of essential services for Palestine refugees.
Chair,
Norway has been a consistent donor to UNRWA, also in testing times.
We encourage donors to continue their support and consider flexible and multi-year contributions to stabilise UNRWA’s financial base and enable forward-looking planning.
We welcome ongoing efforts to prioritise core services, improve cost efficiency, and develop realistic scenario-based plans for Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
A clear financial roadmap, including contingency measures, will enhance predictability and safeguard essential services for Palestine refugees amid continued volatility.
Chair,
The political campaign seeking to undermine UNRWA’s credibility and operational mandate must be stopped.
Norway urges Member States to respond with coordinated, evidence-based messaging that recognizes UNRWA’s essential humanitarian role and the integrity of its neutrality safeguards.
Efforts to de-legitimize UNRWA have direct consequences on refugee rights, regional stability, and service continuity; they must therefore be addressed collectively.
Norway fully supports the renewal of UNRWA’s mandate. The work of the Agency is essential and irreplaceable for millions of Palestine refugees in the region, and particularly in the current context in Gaza – where UNRWA is the backbone of the international community’s humanitarian response and provision of basic services.
Chair,
UNRWA cannot be replaced on short notice or without a proper transition plan, as also stated by the ICJ Advisory Opinion.
It requires a fully functional and operational alternative. The Agency was always meant to be temporary - until a just and lasting political solution had been reached.
For the time being, no one can fulfil UNRWA’s responsibilities in addressing the fundamental needs of Palestine refugees. For food, protection, shelter, healthcare and education.
UNRWA is mandated by the General Assembly, and the GA thus has a responsibility to respond.
Together with several other countries, Norway will facilitate a follow-up resolution on the ICJ Advisory Opinion issued on 22 October. We hope to garner broad support for such a GA-resolution, and have it adopted before the end of the year.
Our intention is that the resolution will express clear support for the Court’s findings and, most importantly, help ensure their implementation - to improve the situation for the Palestinian people – and indeed, Palestine refugees.