NEW YORK, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Annalena Baerbock, the president of the UN General Assembly, has said that the Assembly already renewed last year the mandate of UNRWA until 2029, affirming that the agency’s role is not limited to Gaza, but also extends to Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Baerbock’s remarks came during a news conference held on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York, following her address to the General Assembly and her morning briefing on the priorities of the current session’s presidency.
Her comments were made in response to questions regarding legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset related to the work of UNRWA.
The UN official affirmed that UNRWA plays a pivotal role in providing educational, health, and humanitarian services to millions of Palestinian refugees.
She noted that UNRWA’s mandate rests on clear legal obligations under international law, most notably the UN Convention on the Privileges and Immunities, which stipulates the inviolability of UN premises and prohibits interference in its operations.
