Gaza: The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, has issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation authorities' raid and subsequent evacuation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) headquarters in Qalandiya, situated north of occupied Jerusalem.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Secretary-General described the actions against UNRWA as a significant escalation targeting the agency and its operations in occupied Jerusalem. In his statement, he emphasized the seriousness of targeting United Nations institutions, particularly focusing on the implications for the Palestinian refugee issue and the deepening of their humanitarian suffering.
The OIC Secretary-General underscored the crucial role that UNRWA plays in delivering vital educational, health, relief, and social services to Palestinian refugees amid the ongoing crisis. He urged the international community, especially the Security Council and the United Nations, to take decisive action to halt Israeli measures against UNRWA, ensuring the safety and functionality of its facilities and staff, in line with its legal mandate and pertinent UN resolutions.
Reaffirming the OIC's unwavering support, the Secretary-General highlighted the importance of UNRWA's continued operation as a testament to international commitment to resolving the Palestinian refugee issue. He reiterated the OIC's full backing for the Palestinian people's rights, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.