Press Statement
Statement by the President of the General Assembly, H.E Philemon Yang on Israeli legislation on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA
I am deeply alarmed by the Israeli Parliament¡¯s adoption of two laws which, if implemented, will prevent the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA) from undertaking its essential work in Gaza and in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA, an agency directly established and mandated by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 302 (IV) of 18 December 1949, plays a critical role in providing protection, shelter, food, water, and medical care to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
A collapse of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a result of these two laws would exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian situation. This is unacceptable.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General has also brought this matter to the attention of the General Assembly, which underscores the gravity of the situation.
I urgently call on the Government of Israel to abide by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ resolutions and to allow Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA to continue its indispensable work.
New York, 30 October 2024
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Media?Contacts
Sharon Birch,?Spokesperson for?the President of the General Assembly,?Tel: + 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations M: +1 917 3614990, mariam.shaikh@un.org
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