CAIRO, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- The Arab League urged the international community on Sunday to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and ensure it can continue its work, calling for an international investigation into the killing of 380 UNRWA staff in Gaza.
This statement was made by Arab League Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector, Ambassador Faed Mustafa, during the opening of the 114th Conference of Supervisors for Palestinians in Arab Host Countries at the Arab League headquarters.
Mustafa described the past two years as one of the most critical periods for the Palestinian cause, noting Israel's ongoing attempts to displace Palestinians and implement its so-called "final plan" to eliminate the Palestinian issue and destroy prospects for an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
He condemned the Israeli occupation's military operations in Gaza as an attempt to render the territory uninhabitable and displace its population, while praising the resilience of Gaza's residents in thwarting these plans.
Mustafa also highlighted recent steps toward peace, including the ceasefire agreement, the Sharm El-Sheikh conference, and UN Security Council Resolution 2803, as important milestones toward reconstruction and realizing Palestinian self-determination.
He warned that the situation in the West Bank remains extremely dangerous due to ongoing Israeli settlement expansion and settler attacks, supported by the occupation military, aiming to annex the territory and undermine the Palestinian cause.
Mustafa welcomed the November statement by the E4 group (France, Germany, Italy, and the UK) calling for the immediate halt of settler violence and accountability for perpetrators, describing it as a key step in escalating international condemnation of the Israeli occupation.
He also praised UN General Assembly resolution calling for the occupation's complete withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and reaffirming Palestinians' inalienable rights, including self-determination and statehood, as well as a just resolution for refugees in line with Resolution 194.
Mustafa stressed the urgent need to form a UN-led international investigation to hold accountable those responsible for the deaths of 380 UNRWA staff and deliver justice through international mechanisms.
He further warned that UNRWA faces a severe financial crisis, with a projected deficit of USD 200 million by year-end, threatening the provision of essential services across its five operational regions.
He reaffirmed the Arab League's support for UNRWA and the need to secure funding to ensure its continued operations. (end) mm.dss