Statement from the Foreign Ministers of the UK, France and
Germany on the implementation of legislation against United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East.
Joint statement on behalf of the Foreign Ministers of the UK,
France and Germany:
We, the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, France and
Germany reiterate our grave concern regarding the Government of
Israel's implementation of legislation forbidding any contact
between Israeli state entities, officials and the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA); and prohibiting any UNRWA presence within
Israel and East Jerusalem.
We ask the Government of Israel to abide by its international
obligations and live up to its responsibility to ensure full,
rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance and the
provision of basic services to the civilian population. We urge
the Government of Israel to work with international partners,
including the UN, to ensure continuity of operations. No
other entity or UN Agency currently has the capacity or
infrastructure to replace UNRWA's mandate and experience.
We reiterate our support for UNRWA's UN-mandate to provide
essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestine
refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. UNRWA is
the primary service provider to Palestinian refugees in the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem, and is an integral part of the
response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal and
unjustified terror attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7,
2023. We call on UNRWA to continue on its path of
reform demonstrating its commitment to the principle of
neutrality, in line with the independent review of April 2024,
led by Ms. Catherine Colonna. All alleged involvement of
UNRWA staff in appalling acts in support of 7 October and
subsequent events must be thoroughly investigated.
We reiterate our full endorsement and support for the ceasefire
agreement reached between Israel and Hamas. It is vital that
we now see the release of all remaining hostages. We welcome
the notable increase of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza
since the beginning of the ceasefire and call on all parties to
ensure its continuity. We are grateful for the extensive
efforts of the US, Egypt and Qatar in mediating the agreement and
urge all parties to engage constructively in negotiating the
subsequent phases of the deal to help ensure its full
implementation and a permanent end to hostilities.
We will play our full part in the coming days and weeks to seize
the opportunity of this ceasefire and to ensure it leads to a
credible pathway towards a two-state solution in which Israelis
and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.
