<\/p>\n
31 JANUARY 2024<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
415TH MEETING (AM)<\/p>\n
GA\/PAL\/1460<\/p>\n
Donor countries that have suspended funding to the Â鶹APP agency for Palestine refugees \u2014 following allegations of staff involvement in the 7 October attacks against Israel \u2014 should reverse their decisions, speakers told the Palestinian Rights Committee today, as they stressed that such cuts will penalize millions of aid recipients, rather than individuals implicated in the case.<\/p>\n
The Â鶹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) \u201cis the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza\u201d, said Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/strong> in his remarks to the forum, formally known as the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. \u00a0\u201cI appeal to all Member States to guarantee the continuity of UNRWA\u2019s life-saving work.\u201d<\/p>\n He emphasized that the Â鶹APP immediately acted following the serious allegations against UNRWA staff members.\u00a0 \u201cI was personally horrified by these accusations,\u201d he said, noting that on 30\u00a0January, he met with donors to listen to their concerns and outline steps to address them.\u00a0 The humanitarian system in Gaza is collapsing, he warned, reiterating his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.<\/p>\n Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine<\/strong>, reported that the city of Rafah near the Egypt border has been inundated with people displaced from their homes.\u00a0 \u201cThere is a huge bubble on the fence between Egypt and Gaza,\u201d he said, warning that if the war continues, \u201cthis bubble might burst\u201d and 1.5\u00a0million Palestinians \u2014 living a second Nakba \u2014 might flee to the Egyptian side.<\/p>\n It is high time for Palestine to become a full member of the Â鶹APP, he demanded, stressing that \u201cno issue at the UN enjoys more global consensus than the unity around a two-State solution\u201d.\u00a0 To reach that goal, an international peace conference must be convened.\u00a0 A resolution will be put forward in the General Assembly to that end.\u00a0 If lessons are not learned from this tragic situation in Gaza and from the past 75 years, then \u201cwe did not learn a damn thing\u201d, he said, imploring: \u201cWe need results and we need to see it as quickly as possible.\u201d\u00a0 The Palestinian people deserve their inherent rights, including self-determination, statehood and the rights of the refugees.<\/p>\n Gr\u00e9ta Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir, Director of the UNRWA Representative Office New York<\/strong>, appealed to Member States that suspended funding to the agency to reconsider their decisions, indicating that the agency would run out of money after February\u00a02024.\u00a0 \u201cIf we collapse, the whole operation in Gaza will collapse,\u201d she said, explaining that other humanitarian organizations depend on UNRWA \u2014 by far the largest humanitarian actor, with 13,000 staff members in the enclave.\u00a0 If the agency\u2019s services stop, the impact will be immediately felt on its five fields of operation \u2014 Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.<\/p>\n Turning to the allegations against 12 of its staff members, she reported that the agency\u2019s Commissioner General terminated the contracts of eight staff members without any prior investigation.\u00a0 It is an exceptional measure given the severity of these allegations. \u00a0Two are confirmed dead, one has not been identified and one does not match with staff lists.\u00a0 The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has launched an investigation, she noted, expressing hope that it will proceed swiftly.<\/p>\n Also addressing the Committee was the representative of South Africa<\/strong> who reported on her country\u2019s case \u2014 filed with the International Court of Justice \u2014 against Israel concerning alleged genocide committed in Gaza.\u00a0She said that South Africa and Israel are both parties to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and must fulfil their obligations.\u00a0 In instituting proceedings, her country also requested provisional measures, because it would take long for the case to conclude.\u00a0 On 26\u00a0January, the Court ruled that Israel must take all measures to prevent the commission of genocide and take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza.<\/p>\n The Court fell short of honouring South Africa\u2019s request for a ceasefire, she noted.\u00a0 However, for Israel to implement provisional measures, it needs a ceasefire.\u00a0 If Israel does not respect the Court\u2019s ruling, South Africa will invoke any legal provision at its disposal for its enforcement, including Article\u00a094 of the Charter of the Â鶹APP.<\/p>\n In the ensuing discussion, Committee members expressed firm support for South Africa\u2019s case before the Court, Palestine\u2019s bid for full Â鶹APP membership and the convening of an international peace conference.\u00a0They also urged donors to continue their funding to UNRWA.<\/p>\n The representative of Indonesia<\/strong> said that the allegations must be investigated, but reactions must be proportionate, insisting that \u201cinnocent Palestinians should not be the ones to be punished\u201d.<\/p>\n The representative of T\u00fcrkiye<\/strong>, as Chair of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA, asked the donors that suspended funding to the agency to reverse their decisions, also welcoming the Court\u2019s ruling.<\/p>\n The representative of Cuba<\/strong> called for a ceasefire and unhindered aid delivery and rejected a forcible displacement of Palestinians by Israel.\u00a0 The United States is complicit in enabling the occupying Power to act with impunity, he said, citing the use of veto by Washington, D.C., in the Security Council to block a ceasefire.<\/p>\n The representative of Nicaragua<\/strong> applauded the courage of South Africa in bringing the issue to the Court, also expressing support for Palestine to be recognized as a full Â鶹APP member. \u00a0He also backed the convening of an international conference.<\/p>\n The representative of Malaysia<\/strong> underscored the crucial role played by UNRWA, pledging that his country will continue its financial contribution to the agency.\u00a0 Millions of Palestinians should not be punished due to the allegations against several of the 13,000 UNRWA staff members.<\/p>\n The representative of Venezuela<\/strong> expressed regret that the Court fell short of ordering a ceasefire despite the clear demand for it. \u00a0UNRWA\u2019s work is irreplaceable, he stressed, warning that several donors\u2019 decisions would prolong the collective punishment of Gazans.<\/p>\n The representative of China<\/strong> expressed support for a comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine.\u00a0 The Court\u2019s provisional measures must be implemented, he said, urging Israel to remove all restrictions on aid delivery.\u00a0 The two-State formula is the only way out of the long-lasting conflict.<\/p>\n The representative of Guyana<\/strong> said that as a Security Council member, her delegation will work towards a ceasefire, advocating for the implementation of all relevant Council and General Assembly resolutions.<\/p>\n An observer for the State of Palestine said that funding cuts are punitive, only causing more hunger, more deprivation, more destitution, more despair and more suffering. \u00a0Such an inhumane, reckless outcome must be averted.<\/p>\n The representative of Bolivia<\/strong> called for a ceasefire, welcoming provisional measures ordered by the Court.\u00a0 She urged donors to reconsider their decisions and expressed support for Palestine\u2019s full Â鶹APP membership as well as a two-State solution.<\/p>\n In other business, the Committee adopted its work programme for 2024 and unanimously re-elected Cheikh Niang (Senegal)<\/strong> as Committee Chair.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is time to begin to heal the wounds\u201d that have been reopened on both sides, which is essential for rebuilding confidence-building measures and recreating a path to peaceful coexistence,\u201d he said, advocating for a two-State solution \u2014 Israel and Palestine \u2014 living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders based on the pre-1967 lines.<\/p>\n The Committee will continue to engage with Member States and regional groups to advance the Palestinian cause, he pledged, expressing support for any initiative aimed at the full realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and a just and law-based solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 31 JANUARY 2024 415TH MEETING (AM) GA\/PAL\/1460 Donor countries that have suspended funding to the Â鶹APP agency for Palestine refugees \u2014 following allegations of staff involvement in the 7 October attacks against Israel \u2014 should reverse their decisions, speakers told the Palestinian Rights Committee today, as they stressed that such cuts will 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