The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, has expressed deep concern over two newly adopted laws by the Israeli Parliament that aim to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Mahamat warns that if enforced, these laws would obstruct essential UN humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people, who are already experiencing unprecedented and ongoing physical attacks over the past year.
The Chairperson highlighted Israel’s obligations under international law, including its responsibilities as a United Nations member state, which since 1949 has mandated UNRWA’s operations to support Palestinian refugees.
He emphasized that Israel is required, under international humanitarian law, to permit humanitarian aid for civilians in need.
Mahamat urged the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council to take immediate and decisive action to reaffirm the application of international law, to which Israel is bound as a member of the global community.