Jordan's foreign minister says support for UN agency for Palestinian refugees test of humanity

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Thursday that supporting the UN Palestinian refugee agency, or UNRWA, represents a test of the global commitment to human values and the UN Charter.

"If we care about our human values, if we are committed to the Charter of the United Nations, if we care about humanity, our humanity, we have to support UNRWA," Safadi said at a news conference following an annual ministerial meeting of the agency, noting its work is "indispensable."

He emphasized UNRWA's irreplaceable role in the Gaza Strip, saying: "Nobody will be able to help Palestinians like UNRWA will be able to."

He stressed UNRWA's long-standing presence in Gaza, saying the agency was there "long before the genocide in Gaza started, long before Israel destroyed Gaza schools, long before Israel buried the children of Gaza under the rubble of their homes.”

"UNRWA has been targeted long before Oct. 7. It has been targeted since, and it has made the ultimate sacrifice -- it paid in blood," he said, noting 340 humanitarian workers killed by Israel.

Safadi said UNRWA's expertise makes it essential for post-war reconstruction. "UNRWA knows Gaza better than anybody else, because UNRWA has been there for the people of Gaza through the years of siege," he said.

- Urges translation of political will into resources

He urged all UN member states to translate their political support for UNRWA into action by providing the agency with the resources it needs.

He highlighted the severe challenges facing the agency, noting its staff "is being hunted" and the agency lacks funding to continue operations.

"It is imperative that we all come together, support UNRWA, politically, salute it, celebrate it for the sacrifices it's making, and also fund it so that it can restore life to Gaza," said Safadi.

“UNRWA was born out of the agony of the Palestinian people. It has to stay until their misery ends by the fulfillment of their legitimate right ... to freedom, statehood, dignity and life,' Safadi said.

Israel banned UNRWA on Oct. 28, 2024, in Israeli territory and in the occupied Palestinian territories. The ban took effect in January.

The US is strongly supportive of Israel’s decision and has publicly endorsed Tel Aviv’s right to prohibit UNRWA's operations. Washington temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA in 2024.

In February, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order formally ending all US funding to the UN agency.

The Israeli army has killed more than 65,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable and led to starvation and the spread of diseases.