Deputy FM slams Israel’s smear campaign against UNRWA

Ahmet Yıldiz applauds UNRWA for delivering vital humanitarian aid in Palestine despite Israel’s smear campaign, losing over 200 personnel and severe risks

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz, strongly criticized the Israeli government’s ongoing smear campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) during a session at the UN Security Council.

During the session, Yildiz highlighted the escalating violence and suffering in the occupied territories of Palestine, noting unprecedented levels of pain and increased tensions in the West Bank due to rising settler violence.

“Everyday occurrences now include illegal settlements, house demolitions, forceful evictions, and land seizures,” Yildiz reported. He also mentioned the arbitrary detention of 7,000 individuals since October 7 without any justification provided.

Yildiz described the situation in Gaza as “facing the most horrific human-made catastrophe of modern times, with unprecedented destruction and slaughter unfolding before our eyes. This is extremely painful.” He emphasized the severe humanitarian crisis, with starvation deaths and a death toll much higher than reported, describing it as a “massacre of a generation through sheer brutality, anger, and impoverishment, an affront to our humanity.”

According to Yildiz, UNRWA emerges as a beacon of hope amid these harsh conditions. The agency continues to tirelessly provide food, education, health, and social services despite the life-threatening conditions, including over 200 UN personnel killed due to Israeli attacks.

“The Israeli government continues its smear campaign against UNRWA based on unsubstantiated accusations,” Yildiz stressed. He recalled UNRWA’s initial establishment in 1949 as a temporary agency following the forced displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing that “UNRWA represents the right of return and dignity. It reminds us that the Palestinian issue is still alive and requires a just resolution.”

Yildiz noted the two-state solution’s unresolved status and underlined the international community’s responsibility to protect UNRWA. “Our support for UNRWA is strong and unwavering,” he declared, calling on all member countries to continue their support for the agency’s invaluable work.

Yildiz confirmed Türkiye’s ongoing role as chair of the UNRWA Financing Working Group and a regular contributor, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to supporting the agency’s crucial efforts.

Source: Newsroom