Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia and Spain condemn the latest Israeli legislation targeting UNRWA, including measures to cut water, electricity and communications to its facilities. Such actions undermine the UN mandate, violate international law and run counter to the findings of the International Court of Justice, while risking grave humanitarian consequences for the Palestinian civilian population and refugees.
We also call on Israel to ensure that established international NGOs continue to be permitted to operate in Gaza and that any deregistrations be halted. INGOs constitute a significant part of all humanitarian and especially health services in Gaza and the West Bank.
The work of the UN, in particular UNRWA, together with other humanitarian organisations and NGOs, is essential to confront the catastrophic humanitarian situation and to deliver life-saving assistance and essential servicesto the civilian population in Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the wider region.
We underline the obligation to ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and to enable the continued functioning of UN humanitarian operations and their partners, in line with IHL and relevant international legal obligations.
Respect for the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and for international humanitarian law is imperative.