Jordan condemns Israel's attempt to label UNRWA as 'terrorist' organisation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Saturday condemned an attempt by the Israeli Knesset to label the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as a terrorist organisation.

It was a move to strip the organisation of its immunity and criminalise its activities.

“Israel' continued attempts to kill and politically assassinate UNRWA and target its symbolism that underlines the right of Palestinian refugees to return and compensation in accordance with international law, are illegitimate, illegal and void and are a violation of international law and the obligations of Israel, the occupying power,” the Ministry’s official spokesman Sufyan Al-Qudah said.

He urged the international community to act promptly and urgently to provide protection to the Palestinian people and United Nations organisations and relief agencies that seek to alleviate the impact of ongoing Israeli attacks on the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.

Al-Qudah stressed the refugee agency's mandate that was granted by the world body and called on the international community to continue supporting the agency to continue its "indispensable" role of providing vital services to Palestinian refugees.