The UN General Assembly approves extending the mandate of UNRWA until 2029

The United Nations General Assembly approved this Friday by an overwhelming majority to extend the mandate of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for three more years, despite attempts to criminalize its work within the framework of the offensive launched more than two years ago by the Israeli Army against the Gaza Strip, where more than 70,100 Palestinians have died.

The vote – which establishes the extension of the mandate until June 30, 2029 – has gone ahead with 151 votes in favor, while ten countries have voted against, including the United States and Israel. In addition, 14 other countries have abstained.

Under the resolution ‘Aid for Palestinian refugees’, the Assembly applauded UNRWA for delivering vital aid to Palestinian refugees and its role as a stabilizing factor in the Middle East region.

During the session, the plenary session gave the ‘green light’ to several more resolutions, which show their “full support for the agency’s mandate and condemn” the attacks against its staff, which have resulted in more than 300 dead and injured workers, while warning of attempts to “undermine its operations” and have asked the Israeli Government to respect its “privileges and immunities.”

They have also reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian population to their property and income, deplored Israeli practices that violate the human rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories, in particular Israeli settlements in both Palestine and Syria, and urged action against “extremist” settlers and their supporters.

LAZZARINI: NOW IT IS NECESSARY TO TRANSLATE IT INTO A GENUINE COMMITMENT

UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini has “welcomed the overwhelming vote of the UN General Assembly to renew the mandate” of the agency and stressed that it “reflects the broad solidarity of people around the world with Palestinian refugees.”

“It is also a recognition of the responsibility of the international community to support the humanitarian and human development needs of Palestinian refugees pending a just and lasting solution to their decades-long plight,” he said.

However, the head of UNRWA has maintained through a message published on his profile on the social network