Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the official spokesperson for President Mahmoud Abbas, has warned of the serious repercussions of the Israeli authorities’ recent decision to seize the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem and convert it into a settlement outpost.
Abu Rudeineh described this move as a violation of international law and a challenge to United Nations resolutions that represent international legitimacy.
In a statement, he condemned the decision, emphasizing that it aligns with Israel’s ongoing efforts to undermine the Palestinian refugee issue, which is central to the Palestinian cause. “We will not allow this,” he asserted, noting that UNRWA was established under UN resolution 302 on December 18, 1949.
He reiterated that the refugee issue represents a red line in any potential solution, asserting that peace and stability in the region can only be achieved through a just and comprehensive resolution to the re
fugee crisis, in accordance with international law, including the implementation of UN resolution 194.
Abu Rudeineh also highlighted the role of U.S. support for Israel, which he argued emboldens Israeli leaders to defy international norms and laws. He called on the United States to cease its biased political, military, and financial backing of the occupation, which undermines the rights of Palestinian refugees.
The spokesperson urged the international community to take concrete actions against this serious Israeli decision that threatens international law.
He called for increased support for UNRWA to ensure it can continue providing vital services to Palestinian refugees in all areas of diaspora. “The Palestinian people and their leadership will not allow the occupation’s plans to succeed in liquidating the refugee issue,” he concluded.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA
