Tel Aviv, Feb 5: Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said that there would be “disastrous repercussions” in the stability of the region if funding for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is halted.
The Qatar Prime Minister was speaking to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, according to Hebrew media reports. Media reports stated that the Qatar Prime Minister has stressed the “severe consequences” of discontinuing funding to the UNRWA and emphasized that halting financial support to the agency could lead to “disastrous repercussions”. Al Thani also showcased its pivotal role in ensuring regional stability and providing humanitarian relief. The discussion, as per reports, brought to the forefront the critical situation in the Middle East, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The Qatar Prime Minister highlighted the “indispensable” contribution of UNRWA in supporting millions of Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
He further indicated that the stability of the region and the welfare of millions of people rely on the continuity of the agency’s operations.
Palestinian Prez urges UN to stop Israeli attacks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to step up international efforts to stop the ongoing Israeli “aggression” against the Palestinian people. Abbas made the remarks on Sunday during his meeting at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Abbas called on Guterres to continue his personal efforts and intensify international efforts “to withdraw Israeli occupation forces from the entire Gaza Strip and not to confiscate any inch of its land,” WAFA reported.
Abbas underlined the need to ensure an increase in humanitarian aid, relief materials, and shelter for the Palestinians. He also stressed the importance of preventing the displacement of Palestinians and stopping all attacks by “occupation forces and settlers”, as well as the release of all Palestinian clearance funds. Abbas said it was important to achieve full membership for the State of Palestine in the United Nations through a decision of the Security Council (IANS)
