Indonesia strongly condemned Israel's decision to ban UNRWA activities in Israel, which has resulted in the disruption of the UN aid agency's operations in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
According to a written statement received from the Foreign Affairs Ministry here on Tuesday, Israel's action to bar UNRWA activities is "unacceptable" as the UN body plays a key role in the provision of education, healthcare, and aid to millions of Palestinian refugees.
"The decision clearly violates and contradicts the UN Charter and the 1946 Convention on the immunities of UN agencies," the ministry said.
Recognizing the "irreplaceable role" of the UNRWA in assisting Palestinians, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting the agency in discharging its mandate.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to exert efforts to stop Israeli aggression and oppression against the Palestinian people.
It has also asked the global community to ensure that Israel complies with its obligations under international law, UN Security Council resolutions, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings to end its occupation of Palestine, the ministry said.
Related news: Indonesia strongly condemns Israel's move to restrict UNRWA operations
Despite warnings from the UN and the international community that efforts to restrict UNRWA activities may constitute a violation of international law, the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, passed a bill prohibiting UNRWA activities in Israel on October 28, 2024.
The law states that "UNRWA will not operate any representative office, will not provide any service, and will not carry out any activity, directly or indirectly, in the territory of the State of Israel."
Israel's move stirred global condemnation, including from Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain, which all emphasized UNRWA's "irreplaceability" for the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the law would be detrimental to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to peace and security in the region as a whole.
Related news: Indonesia condemns Israel's move to label UNRWA a terror group
Reporter: Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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