Geneva: Eng. Rafiq Kharfan, Director General of the Department of Palestinian Affairs, emphasized the vital role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in supporting Palestinian refugees since 1949, while highlighting the current systematic campaign by Israel aimed at politically undermining the agency. According to Jordan News Agency, Kharfan made these remarks during the UNRWA Advisory Commission meetings held at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, where around 30 countries participated, including those hosting Palestinian refugees, donor nations, the European Community, and the Arab League. Spain chaired the commission, with Jordan as First Vice President and Brazil as Second Vice President. Kharfan addressed the complex geopolitical context, noting the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, which has persisted for over a year, resulting in war crimes such as the targeting of civilians and destruction of essential infrastructure. He highlighted that despite UNRWA's eff orts, Israel has escalated its attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 243 UNRWA employees and the destruction of crucial facilities. Furthermore, Kharfan condemned the Israeli Knesset's decision to ban UNRWA's operations in the occupied territories, severing ties with the organization and withdrawing diplomatic privileges for its employees, which he described as violations of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter. In response, Jordan has proposed a resolution to the Arab League, urging a special session of the General Assembly and an emergency Security Council meeting to address the implications of these Israeli laws and to demand Israel to retract its measures. The resolution also calls for suspending Israel's participation in United Nations meetings as an occupying power. Kharfan expressed appreciation for the guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Ministry of Foreign and Expatriates in rallying international support to secure UNRWA's operations. He reiterated that UNR WA remains an essential agency until a just solution for Palestinian refugees is reached, as per United Nations Resolution 194 of 1948. He also referred to the Arab-Islamic Summit's declaration in Riyadh, which condemned Israel's discriminatory laws and urged United Nations sanctions, calling upon member states to protect Palestinian refugees' rights and ensure the continuity of UNRWA's mission. Finally, Kharfan reaffirmed Jordan's rejection of any attempts to replace UNRWA and advocated for sustained political and financial backing to counter Israel's campaigns and enable the agency to continue its critical work.
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