File photo: UNRWA in Gaza
UN refugee agency UNRWA on Tuesday decried as “irresponsible” Israeli plans to close the agency’s offices in the occupied East Jerusalem.
“UNRWA is carrying out operations within the framework of the UN Charter and bilateral and multilateral agreements which are still valid as well as relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly," UNRWA spokesman Christopher Gunness told Jordan’s Petra news agency.
He said the refugee agency has been authorized by the UN to provide protection and aid to Palestinian refugees in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem.
“Such messages by top elected figures in Israel are irresponsible and very serious,” he said.
Last week, Israel’s Jerusalem municipality announced plans to remove the UN agency from the occupied city.
According to Israeli Channel Two, U.S. President Donald Trump's recent decision to end financial aid to UNRWA has encouraged Israel to take move.
At least three Palestinians were killed Friday by Israeli army gunfire -- and another 126 injured -- amid ongoing demonstrations along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.In a statement, Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesman for Gaza’s Health Ministry, said that one of the three martyrs was a minor.According to al-Qidra, “dozens” of Palestinian protesters were affected by teargas while 126 others, including 10 women and 30 children, sustained gunshot injuries.Israel takes aim at UNRWA’s presence in E. Jerusalem: MediaIsrael to send reinforcements to Gaza buffer zoneSeven of the injured persons were in serious condition, he added.Demonstrators demand the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic commodities.According to the Health Ministry, more than 190 Palestinians have been martyred -- and 20,000 others injured -- since the rallies first began on March 30.Video: Three Palestinians martyred along Gaza-Israel buffer zone
Three Palestinians martyred along Gaza-Israel buffer zone
The broadcaster said that the Israeli move was planned in coordination with the U.S. administration and will soon be presented to the Israeli government for approval.
In September, the U.S. State Department announced that Washington would “no longer commit funding” to UNRWA.
The U.S. had been UNRWA's largest contributor by far, providing it with $350 million annually -- roughly one quarter of the agency's overall budget.
Established in 1949, UNRWA provides critical aid to Palestinian refugees in the blockaded Gaza Strip, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
The head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has hailed Turkey’s "increased solidarity" to support the agency after the U.S. cut off funding. “I very much value the leadership that Turkey is showing,” Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbühl told to reporters on the sidelines of this week’s TRT World Forum in Istanbul. “I think it is sending a strong message at the time when the UNWRA is under pressure because we lost money from the United States.” In August, the Trump administration announced that Washington would no longer commit funding to the main UN program for Palestinian refugees. The U.S. had been the agency's largest contributor by far, providing it with $350 million annually -- roughly one-quarter of the agency's overall budget. Praising Turkey showing “strong solidarity” for the Palestinians, Krahenbühl said: “Every time I come to Turkey, there is a very strong feeling, very big concern about Palestinians and about Palestinian refugees, which is very important to me.” “This year, because of the situation that we’ve faced, there was increased solidarity and increased political engagement to support UNRWA by the Turkish leadership.”Israeli army, Palestine youth clash in occupied W. BankIsrael takes aim at UNRWA’s presence in E. Jerusalem: MediaEducation for a half-million children at risk Asked whether the agency was affected by the recent U.S. cut, he said: “We have an education system, for example, for 500,000 Palestinian refugee boys and girls in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. “We have to find the money. It’s not possible to imagine that their schools would close. These young students would no longer be able to get to have their education.” But the UNRWA head expressed gratitude over the “collective mobilization” of some countries in the Gulf, in Asia, and other countries in Europe. “We called on all the rest of the international community. There has been a very strong reaction so far. The countries in the Gulf, but also in Asia, Turkey and other countries really stepped up and supported us very strongly.” In September, the foreign ministers of Jordan, Sweden, Turkey, Japan and Germany, as well as the EU foreign policy chief, held a ministerial meeting in New York in order to mobilize financial and political support for the agency. “The ministerial meeting raised $122 million, with Kuwait, the European Union, Germany, Norway, France, Belgium, and Ireland announcing additional funding commitments,” according to the agency’s website. On that event in New York, Krahenbühl said: “I am very encouraged by the very strong and collective mobilization [at the event].” “Right now, I think we are on a positive path,” he added. Established in 1949, the UNRWA provides critical aid to Palestinian refugees in the blockaded Gaza Strip, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.Video: UNRWA employees strike over downscaling plans
'Turkey stepped up when US cut aid to Palestine': UN