Pakistan has demanded that the demonization and delegitimization of UNRWA (UN relief agency working for Palestinian refugees) must be halted and underlined the need for concrete measures to ensure that UNRWA remains operational and carries out its humanitarian work in accordance with its mandate.
Delivering a statement in the Fourth Committee meeting today, First Secretary Ansar Shah reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Palestinian people and their inalienable right to self-determination.
He said that all UN member states must reaffirm their commitment to UNRWA by providing political, financial, and operational support. He said that sustaining and expanding UNRWA’s operations is crucial to countering the detrimental effects of Israel’s brutal and inhuman actions.
Pakistan strongly condemned the Israeli attempts to dismantle the operations of the UNRWA in flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, provisional measures set by the ICJ and the Court’s Advisory Opinion of 19 July.
Ansar Shah said that millions of Palestinians are justified in fearing the discontinuation of essential public services on which their lives depend such as education, health, and social support.
“The entire population of Gaza fears that their only remaining lifeline will be cut. Without the intervention by Member States, UNRWA will collapse, plunging millions of Palestinians into chaos. We have to answer the call of Palestinian people,” he said.
Referring to the two laws passed by the Israeli parliament recently, Ansar Shah said that Israel has violated the mandate given to UNRWA by the UN General Assembly. He said that the Israeli regime even had the audacity to declare the UN Secretary General as persona non grata.
He warned that the international order built on the basis of the UN Charter could collapse if the international community did not take concrete actions to uphold the Charter and the international law.
“Pakistan reiterates its steadfast support for the Palestinian people and their inalienable right to self-determination. The international community must uphold the principles of justice, human rights, and international law to restore hope and dignity to the Palestinian people,” he said while concluding the statement.
