Arab League calls emergency meeting in response to Israeli Knesset's decision To terminate UNRWA

The League of Arab States (LAS) is set to convene an emergency meeting at the level of permanent representatives on October 31 in Cairo, aimed at addressing the Israeli Knesset's recent decision to dissolve the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) within the occupied Palestinian territories.

The initiative for this urgent session was put forth by Jordan, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

Scheduled to take place at the LAS headquarters under Yemen's chairmanship, the meeting follows Jordan's request made on October 29 in light of the Knesset's approval of legislation to halt UNRWA's operations. This agency has been pivotal in delivering humanitarian assistance to millions of Palestinians and has faced increasing scrutiny from the Israeli government.

The situation escalated following the outbreak of conflict in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, which prompted Israel to launch a campaign aimed at undermining the credibility of UNRWA.

Israeli authorities have alleged that a small fraction of the agency's workforce was implicated in the attacks of October 7, further fueling calls for its closure. The Arab League's upcoming discussions will likely focus on the broader implications of this decision for regional stability and humanitarian efforts in the occupied territories.

The Tel Aviv government is intensifying its efforts to shut down and discredit UNRWA, the agency that supports Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, as well as in Lebanon and Jordan.

UNRWA employs around 30,000 staff, the majority of whom are Palestinians, working in vital areas such as health, education, and social services.

By Vafa Guliyeva