GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Hamas Movement has welcomed the position of nine European countries, alongside Canada and Japan, condemning Israel’s arbitrary measures against UNRWA.
In a statement released on Thursday, Hamas appealed to these countries to translate their position into practical measures that would compel the Israeli occupation regime to allow UNRWA’s relief operations to resume without obstruction.
Hamas urged other countries to adopt a similar position and apply pressure to halt Israel’s measures and aggressive practices against UNRWA.
The Movement stressed the need to enable the refugee agency to fulfill its UN-mandated humanitarian duties, unhindered by any restrictions or political blackmail.
11 countries have condemned Israel’s demolition of the east Jerusalem headquarters of UNRWA, saying it “marks the latest unacceptable move to undermine” UNRWA’s work.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Britain slammed the demolition as an “unprecedented act” against a UN agency.
“We call upon the government of Israel, a member of the UN, to halt all demolitions,” they said.
The Israeli regime has carried out a repressive campaign against UNRWA, which provides aid and services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, amid its genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Without concrete evidence, the Israeli government and its allies, including the US, have accused UNRWA of being linked to Hamas, a claim rejected by the UN.
Israel has used those allegations to curtail UNRWA’s operations in Gaza, despite humanitarian leaders noting that the agency is best equipped to distribute food, water, medicine and other critical humanitarian aid in the war-ravaged enclave.
