Palestinians’ rights matter, says UNRWA chief
2025-02-07 12:00
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has said that the rights of Palestinians matter and that the agency will continue to work to protect them.
In a speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that “the rights of the Palestine refugees are not a matter of debate. They are enshrined in international law.”
Lazzarini said that UNRWA was “deeply concerned” about the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the “systematic discrimination” faced by Palestinians. He said that these factors were “a major obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights by Palestinians.”
Lazzarini called on the international community to “take action to end the occupation and to ensure that the rights of the Palestine refugees are respected.”
UNRWA is a UN agency that provides assistance to Palestinian refugees in the Middle East. It was established in 1949 to provide relief to Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. UNRWA currently provides assistance to over 5 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli government has accused UNRWA of being biased against Israel and of perpetuating the Palestinian refugee problem. In 2018, the US government cut its funding to UNRWA by $300 million.
Despite these challenges, UNRWA continues to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees, including education, healthcare, and food assistance. Lazzarini said that UNRWA was “committed to continuing to provide these services until the Palestinian refugees are able to return to their homes.”
Reaction
The speech was welcomed by Palestinian officials. Saeb Erekat, the chief negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organization, said that Lazzarini’s speech was “a strong and clear message that the rights of the Palestinian people are non-negotiable.”
Israeli officials criticized the speech. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said that Lazzarini’s speech was “one-sided” and that it “ignored the fact that Israel is the victim of Palestinian terrorism.”
The United States said that it was “disappointed” by Lazzarini’s speech. US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that the speech was “not helpful” and that it “did not reflect the reality of the situation on the ground.”
Analysis
Lazzarini’s speech is a reminder that the Palestinian refugee issue is still unresolved. The speech is also a reminder that UNRWA is a vital lifeline for Palestinian refugees.
The speech is likely to further strain relations between UNRWA and the Israeli government. The Israeli government has long accused UNRWA of being biased against Israel. The US government has also criticized UNRWA in recent years.
Despite these challenges, UNRWA continues to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees. The agency is likely to continue to face challenges in the years to come, but it is also likely to continue to play a vital role in the lives of Palestinian refugees.
Palestinians’ rights matter, says UNRWA chief
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