Senate committee discusses Israel's restrictions on UNRWA's operations in occupied Palestinian territories
10/09/2026 | 18:27:43
Amman, Sept. 10 (Petra) - The Senate's Palestine Committee met on Thursday with UNRWA Director of Affairs in Jordan Amanya Michael Ebye and Director General of the Department of Palestinian Affairs (DPA) Rafiq Khirfan to discuss the mounting Israeli restrictions and attacks on the agency's operations.
Talking at the meeting, Committee Chair Mazen Darwazeh stated that UNRWA remains an "indispensable" international body, established by the UN General Assembly to uphold refugee rights under international law, including Resolution 194.
He condemned systematic attacks on UNRWA operations and facilities, including the raid on the Kalandia Training Centre, warning that attempts to strip the agency's authority seek to dismantle the Palestinian refugee issue without a "just" political solution.
Khirfan, for his part, noted that the war has damaged nearly 90 percent of UNRWA facilities in Gaza, compounding the agency's severe financial crisis.
He stated that Jordan hosts nearly two million Palestinian refugees, making UNRWA’s core services in education, health, and social welfare "vital" for regional stability.
Ebye praised His Majesty King Abdullah II’s diplomatic efforts to mobilize international support, confirming that UNRWA continues to serve refugees in Jordan, as 161 agency-run schools opened for the new academic year.
Concluding the meeting, the attendees called for "unified" Arab and international action to secure "sustainable" funding and safeguard UNRWA’s UN mandate.
//Petra// HA