Egypt, Islamic countries say UNRWA’s role is indispensable for safeguarding rights of Palestinian refugees

CAIRO – 12 December 2025: The Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar reaffirmed the indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in safeguarding the rights and well-being of Palestinian refugees.

For decades, UNRWA has carried out a unique mandate entrusted to it by the international community, providing protection, education, health care, social services, and emergency assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in its areas of operation, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (1949), the joint statement said.

The ministers noted that the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution renewing UNRWA’s mandate for an additional three years reflects the international community’s confidence in the agency’s vital role and the necessity of ensuring the continuity of its operations.

They condemned the storming of UNRWA’s headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, describing the incident as a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises. They stressed that this attack constitutes an unacceptable escalation and contradicts the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 22 October 2025, which clearly states that Israel, as the occupying power, is obligated not to impede UNRWA’s operations and, rather, to facilitate them.

In light of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the ministers underscored the essential role UNRWA plays in delivering humanitarian assistance through its network of distribution centers, ensuring that food, relief items, and basic necessities reach those in need fairly and efficiently, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2803. They emphasized that UNRWA’s schools and health facilities continue to serve as a lifeline for refugee communities in Gaza, providing education and primary health care under extremely challenging conditions, which helps sustain Palestinian resilience and supports efforts toward recovery and reconstruction.

The ministers stressed that UNRWA’s role is irreplaceable. No other organization possesses the infrastructure, expertise, or field presence necessary to meet the needs of Palestinian refugees or maintain service continuity at the required scale. Any weakening of the agency’s capacity would have serious humanitarian, social, and political repercussions across the region.

Accordingly, the ministers called upon the international community to ensure sustainable and adequate funding for UNRWA, and to provide the agency with the political and operational space needed to continue its vital work in all five fields of operation. Supporting UNRWA, they affirmed, remains a cornerstone of maintaining stability, preserving human dignity, and upholding the rights of Palestinian refugees until a just and lasting solution is reached in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including UN General Assembly Resolution 194.