Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Expatriates Affairs Badr Abdelatty discussed on Monday, September 7, 2026, with Acting Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Christian Saunders humanitarian developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, challenges facing the agency, and ways to support it and enable it to carry out its UN mandate.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during a meeting held on the sidelines of the 166th regular session of the Arab League (AL) Council at the ministerial level at the AL headquarters in Cairo, the foreign minister reaffirmed Egypt's full support for UNRWA, stressing its indispensable role in providing essential services to Palestinian refugees and the need to secure the political and financial support required for the agency to continue operating across its five fields of operation.

Abdelatty condemned what he described as continued Israeli attacks and violations against UNRWA facilities and centers, including the August 25 raid by Israeli forces on and seizure of UNRWA's Kalandia Training Centre (KTC) in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).

He stressed the need to respect the inviolability of United Nations premises, ensure the protection of UN personnel, and reject any attempts aimed at undermining UNRWA's role or infringing on its mandate.

The meeting addressed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip. Abdelatty stressed the need to ensure the full, safe and sustained delivery of humanitarian and relief aid to the enclave without obstacles, while intensifying international efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

He further underscored UNRWA's pivotal role in the humanitarian response in Gaza and the importance of enabling the agency to perform its duties as a key pillar of the humanitarian system, particularly amid mounting needs among the population and Palestinian refugees.

For his part, Saunders outlined the growing challenges facing UNRWA and the dire humanitarian conditions faced by Palestinian refugees, particularly in Gaza.

He reviewed the agency's efforts to continue providing its services despite operational and financial constraints, expressing appreciation for Egypt's continued support for UNRWA, as well as Cairo's role in supporting the Palestinian people and alleviating their humanitarian suffering.