STATEMENT BY
MR. ALAN E. GEORGE
MINISTER COUNSELLOR/POLITICAL COORDINATOR
Thank you, Mr. President.
I thank Algeria for requesting this meeting, supported by Somalia, focused on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency of Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
I also thank Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and Mr. Jan Egeland, Secretary-General, Norwegian Refugee Council for their comprehensive and sobering briefings.
Sierra Leone notes the extraordinary commitment demonstrated by UNWRA in providing life-saving and critical support to the Palestinian people, particularly in the past 15 months, and we pay tribute to the 269 personnel who have lost their lives since the start of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. We express our deepest condolences to the families and stand in solidarity with those adversely impacted.
President,
Since its establishment by General Assembly resolution 302 (iv) of 1949, UNRWA has been and continues to be a beacon of hope for Palestinian refugees who have endured and continue to endure untold suffering in the occupied territories and abroad.
The Agency’s direct relief and works programme, the provision of education, primary health care, and social services to millions of Palestinians across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is a testament to its long-standing commitment to the welfare and human development of Palestine refugees.
Notwithstanding the challenges faced by UNRWA in the past fifteen (15) months due to the prolonged hostilities, direct strikes on its installations, shelters/facilities and the insecurity of its workers, its resilience to deliver at scale and provide adequate humanitarian assistance and direct services to civilians in the Gaza Strip and its other areas of operations has been remarkable.
Therefore, it is concerning to note that recent developments pertaining to the disinformation campaign, and two laws passed by the Knesset of Israel with regard to UNRWA’s operation in the Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT) will worsen the already catastrophic living conditions of millions of Palestinians and undermine international humanitarian efforts.
While we welcome the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and are keenly monitoring its implementation, we remain disturbed by the increased suffering to the Palestinian people as well as disruptions in UN humanitarian operations worldwide likely to occur, if UNRWA, the backbone of humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, is restricted or forced to cease its operations in the Occupied Palestine Territory, owing to these laws. In this regard, Sierra Leone would like to make the following observations:
First, Sierra Leone acknowledges UNRWA’s vital role as the mainstay of humanitarian response services to the Palestine refugees. We emphasize that UNWRA cannot be replaced by any other agency or entity, as the work they do for Palestinians in the Gaza strip and across the wider region is lifesaving and immeasurable. As stated by the Secretary-General in his response to the General Assembly on the implementation of resolution ES-10/26, “UNRWA provides irreplaceable services – from protection and education to healthcare – to millions of Palestinians” … and provides “essential logistical and infrastructural support to the entire humanitarian system. Without UNRWA, the humanitarian response would risk collapse, further compounding the already catastrophic situation experienced by civilians in Gaza.”
Over the years, the agency has developed dynamic structures and systems that support the unique needs of the large and widespread vulnerable population it serves in the OPT and across several other countries. As tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians return home to Northern Gaza to rebuild and restart their lives, we remain mindful of UNRWA’s role in Gaza’s reconstruction and recovery plan, including the provision of education to the 650,000 children and 17,000 medical consultations administered daily through their primary health care services.
Second, we note with serious concern the communication from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council (S/2025/18) bringing to attention the two laws of the Knesset of Isreal adopted on 28th October 2024 and further outlining UNRWA’s role in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) as contained in resolution A/RES/302 (IV) (1949).
The Secretary General’s communication and the various briefings received on the subject have established that the implementation of those laws runs contrary to the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with serious humanitarian consequences for Palestinian civilians. We therefore call on Israel to reconsider its decision to implement those laws.
Third, we welcome the General Assembly resolution 79/232 of 19th December 2024 seeking legal clarity from the International Court of Justice through an advisory opinion on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory . While we await the determination of the Court, we are also of the view that full implementation of these legislations could have implications for Israel under international law and international humanitarian law including provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Additionally, we note the effort by the UNRWA to implement the 50 specific, timebound, and sequenced recommendations of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principles of Neutrality (Colonna Report) through its High-Level Action Plan and invite the organization to continue such actions in line with the principles of international law. Establishing trust in UNWRA’s organizational capacity especially with regards to the principle of neutrality in all its operations, continues to be a priority for the UN and this Council at this pivotal time. In this regard, we fully support timely implementation of the recommendations in the Report, especially those relating to frequent and effective communications with donor countries on UNWRA’s operations and financial management including through formal meetings at the UN.
President ,
Sierra Leone appeals for adequate, predictable, and sustained support for UNRWA’s operational and financial capacity and its services, until a just and lasting political solution to the plight of Palestine refugees is found. We note with concern media reports of a letter from Israel informing the Secretary-General that “UNRWA is required to cease its operations in Jerusalem and evacuate all premises in which it operates in the city, no later than 30 January 2025.”
As this Council supports efforts to ensure that the ongoing cessation of hostilities will peacefully transition into a permanent ceasefire that will allow the resumption of political dialogue, it is incumbent upon us to seek an urgent solution to this unfortunate impasse, such that Israel reconsiders implementation of the two Knesset laws, and that UNWRA’s East Jerusalem headquarters are not taken over, but are retained as an integral central coordination point for humanitarian support and reconstruction efforts to the Palestinian people. We must swiftly work towards a solution that provides demonstrable assurances that UNWRA has in place effective neutrality mechanisms and procedures that enable it to provide its essential services to millions of Palestinians in strict compliance with the robust UNWRA neutrality framework that was developed in 2017 and has since been updated as part of the work of the Colonna report.
Sierra Leone remains committed to all efforts towards a lasting peace, guided by the principles of the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace, security, stability, and dignity.
I thank you.
