Amman: Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Ayman Safadi on Monday received a phone call from the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini. During the call, Safadi highlighted UNRWA's humanitarian role in Gaza, emphasizing the ongoing humanitarian crisis due to extensive destruction from Israeli aggression, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and illegal restrictions on UN operations.
According to Jordan News Agency, Safadi and Lazzarini stressed the importance of the UN General Assembly resolution that supports the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's obligations as an occupying power. This resolution pertains to the presence and activities of the UN and international organizations in the occupied Palestinian territory. They emphasized the need for facilitating aid and relief operations, including those executed by UNRWA, ensuring that assistance is not hindered.
They also noted the significance of the UN General Assembly's decision to extend UNRWA's mandate for an additional three years. Safadi called for intensified regional and international efforts to support UNRWA, highlighting the agency's indispensable role in delivering essential services to Palestinian refugees across its five areas of operation under its UN mandate.
Safadi reiterated Jordan's condemnation of the Israeli forces' raid on UNRWA's offices in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, describing it as a blatant violation of international law, an infringement on the inviolability of UN premises, and an unacceptable escalation.