ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of eight Muslim and Arab countries have issued a joint statement reaffirming support for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, underscoring its central role in protecting Palestinian rights and delivering humanitarian assistance, amid reports that the United States is weighing a possible terror designation against the agency.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, and Qatar said they affirm “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.”
The statement followed a Reuters report that the administration of US President Donald Trump has discussed designating UNRWA as a terrorist organisation, a move that would significantly restrict its operations and funding.
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Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and United Arab Emirates
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 12, 2025
In their declaration, the ministers said UNRWA has for decades 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 under UN General Assembly Resolution 302 of 1949.
They noted that the UN General Assembly’s recent decision to renew UNRWA’s mandate for another three years reflects “international confidence in the vital role played by the agency and the continuity of its operations.”
The ministers also condemned the storming of UNRWA’s headquarters in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood by Israeli forces, describing it as “a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises.”
They said the incident violated an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on Oct. 22, 2025, which states that Israel, as an occupying power, is obliged not to impede UNRWA’s work and instead facilitate it.
Highlighting what they described as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the ministers stressed UNRWA’s role in distributing food, relief items, and basic necessities through its network of centres, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
They said the agency’s schools and health facilities remain “a lifeline for refugee communities in Gaza,” continuing to provide education and primary health care under extreme conditions, and contributing to stability on the ground.
The statement emphasised that UNRWA’s role is “irreplaceable,” warning that no other organisation has the infrastructure, expertise or field presence to deliver services at a comparable scale.
“Any weakening of the Agency’s capacity would have grave humanitarian, social, and political repercussions across the region,” the ministers said.
They called on the international community to ensure sustainable and adequate funding for UNRWA and to provide it with the political and operational space needed to continue its work “in all five fields of operations.”
The ministers said supporting UNRWA is essential to maintaining regional stability, preserving human dignity, and upholding the rights of Palestinian refugees until a just and lasting solution is achieved in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including General Assembly Resolution 194.
