Doha: Marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the Doha-based Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) has organized a webinar on the repercussions of the Israeli occupation’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) activities inside the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to Qatar News Agency, in her opening remarks, Chairperson of ANNHRI, Samar Al Hajj Hassan, emphasized that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is an opportunity to reaffirm the international community’s commitment to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. These rights include self-determination, the right to return, and the establishment of an independent state. She highlighted that this day was sanctioned in 1977 by the United Nations General Assembly as a reminder of the ongoing tragedy faced by the Palestinian people and to rally international support to end the Israeli occupation and achieve a just
peace.
Al Hajj Hassan referred to the law passed by the Israeli Knesset last October, which bans the activities of UNRWA within Israeli-controlled areas. This law aims to prevent UNRWA from providing educational, health, and relief services to Palestinian refugees in areas such as East Jerusalem, a move that has sparked widespread international protests. The Chairperson of ANNHRI described this law as a dangerous precedent in dealings with international organizations and a blatant violation of United Nations institutions and international human rights laws. She also noted its breach of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2730 of 2024, which mandates respect and protection for international institutions and humanitarian workers by the occupying forces.
ANNHRI Secretary-General, Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali, explained that the Israeli occupation is attempting to alter the global perception of the conflict in Palestine in a manner that defies reason, logic, law, and international norms. He stated that the Israel
i occupation targeted civilians through land, sea, and air blockades, aiming to transform the nature of the conflict by dismantling the Palestinian cause and its components, rather than resolving it. Al Jamali called for global solidarity to counter the intentions of the Israeli occupation, which he described as detrimental to Arab and Palestinian interests.
Al Jamali also urged for intensified cooperation and efforts with global communities to pressure governments into implementing resolutions of the International Charter and the decisions of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. He emphasized the need to support the realization of the right to self-determination for the peoples of the region, particularly the Palestinian Arab people, to return and live freely with security and dignity in their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Commissioner-General of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, Issam Arouri, noted that despite 77 years since th
e recognition of Palestinians’ right to self-determination, the Palestinian state has yet to be established, with some countries still refusing to recognize it.
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff of UNRWA, Ben Majikodomini, expressed uncertainty about the implications of the new Israeli law on UNRWA’s operations, including fund transfers, vehicle movements, and entry permits for crews, due to restricted communication with the Israeli side. He affirmed UNRWA’s commitment to continue its work despite the new legal hurdles, regarding the law as a violation of the UN Charter, international laws, and the rights of Palestinians. Majikodomini warned that the legislation aims to alter the conditions for Palestinians, alienate donor countries, and limit the UN’s capacity to fulfill its responsibilities, urging legal measures to address the situation. He highlighted that prior to October 7, 2023, UNRWA was already operating under significant financial strain, with annual budget deficits due to reduced funding from donor countr
ies.