United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has formally expressed his concerns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a newly passed law that could significantly undermine the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
In a letter sent on Tuesday, Guterres highlighted “the issues of international law that have been raised by this law,” according to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The UN chief warned that if the law is implemented, it would have a “devastating impact on the humanitarian situation of Palestinians in the occupied territory.”
UNRWA provides essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees, including education, healthcare, and emergency assistance. The potential crippling of its operations could exacerbate an already fragile humanitarian situation.
Dujarric emphasized the United Nations’ commitment to supporting Palestinian refugees and called on Israel to reconsider the legislation in light of its potential consequences under international law.
Reference(s):
UN chief writes letter to Israeli PM protesting UNRWA ban: spokesman
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