May 13, 2025
On the 77th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in coordination with the PLO’s Department of Refugee Affairs, held a special session for the diplomatic corps accredited to the State of Palestine. The event was co-chaired by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin and Executive Committee Member of the PLO and Head of the Refugee Affairs Department, Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, and was attended by ambassadors, consuls, and representatives of more than 45 countries and international organizations.
Dr. Shahin emphasized that the Nakba is not merely a historic event but an ongoing reality marked by continued Israeli policies of colonialism, apartheid, forced displacement, and ethnic cleansing. She highlighted historical records, UN resolutions, and numerous reports confirming the vast suffering caused by Israel’s persistent violations of international law.
She condemned Israel’s impunity and the lack of international accountability for crimes against Palestinians, including violations of UN Resolutions 181 and 194, and drew attention to current crimes in Gaza, stating that Israel has yet to acknowledge responsibility for the Nakba or the current genocide and displacement.
Dr. Shahin reiterated the international legal basis for the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood, calling for recognition of the Nakba as an ongoing international crime and for domestic legislation supporting the right of return. She stressed the vital role of UNRWA in supporting over 5.9 million registered refugees and warned against efforts to dismantle it, describing such moves as attacks on the UN system itself.
She appealed to the international community to move beyond condemnations and to take concrete steps—including sanctions and arms embargoes—toward holding Israel accountable and ensuring justice and protection for the Palestinian people.
Dr. Abu Holi welcomed the international delegations and thanked them for their support for Palestinian rights. He warned of Israel’s ongoing attempts to eliminate the refugee issue by targeting UNRWA, especially in Jerusalem, and highlighted closures of its headquarters and schools in occupied East Jerusalem, depriving thousands of students of education.
He also condemned the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, home to more than 2.4 million refugees, warning of famine, the closure of border crossings, and the denial of humanitarian aid. He reported the death of 298 UNRWA staff since October 7, 2023, and described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic.
In the West Bank, including Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem camps, Dr. Abu Holi noted organized military campaigns by Israeli forces aimed at dismantling refugee camps and forcing displacement, leading to over 54,000 newly displaced persons. He denounced these acts as part of a broader political plan to erase the right of return and impose forced solutions in violation of international law and UN Resolution 194.
Dr. Abu Holi called on the international community and donors to safeguard UNRWA’s mandate and support its continued operations, especially under the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. He also urged the formation of an international inquiry into Israel’s violations against UNRWA and the refugees, and the convening of an emergency international conference to support Gaza’s reconstruction and protect Palestinian rights.
At the end of the session, the Ministry and PLO’s Refugee Affairs Department submitted a memorandum to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right of return per Resolution 194 and rejecting all efforts to dismantle the refugee issue or undermine UNRWA. The memo called on the UN and international community to uphold their responsibilities and ensure protection, halt forced displacement, and facilitate humanitarian aid and a ceasefire in Gaza.
A joint press conference was held following the session, summarizing key outcomes and urgent international actions required to end the war, displacement, and annexation efforts.
