May 24, 2025
During his meeting with the Tunisian official at the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of the Palestinian Ambassador to Tunisia, Rami Qaddoumi, and the Undersecretary of the Department of Refugee Affairs, Anwar Hamam, Dr. Abu Holi discussed the difficult and catastrophic conditions facing the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with the ongoing Israeli aggression, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, and the ongoing war of genocide against the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. This war has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 Palestinians, most of whom are children, women, and the elderly.
Abu Holi explained that Gaza is currently experiencing an unprecedented famine due to the use of starvation, the cutting off of aid, the prevention of water and electricity supplies, and the closure of the crossings to international aid since March 1, as a tool in the war waged by Israel against the Palestinian people to force them to emigrate.
Dr. Abu Holi provided a comprehensive explanation of the dangerous situation facing UNRWA, due to the political attacks led by the Israeli occupation government against it and the operational and financial challenges it faces due to the deep-rooted financial deficit in its budget.
Dr. Abu Houli stressed that the crisis is taking a dangerous turn, aiming to cut off the lifeline to our people in the Gaza Strip. This will have direct repercussions on Palestinian refugee communities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, as well as in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, given that UNRWA is the primary and sole provider of educational, health, and social services to them.
He emphasized the importance of Tunisian diplomacy continuing its international and regional efforts to stop the war of extermination and to work to financially support UNRWA and its mandate, in accordance with the UN mandate granted to it by Resolution 302.
For his part, Tunisian Secretary of State Mohamed Ben Ayad reiterated Tunisia's firm and unwavering positions in support of Palestinian rights and the struggle to restore them, embodied in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
He expressed Tunisia's strong condemnation of the policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide waged by Israel against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Secretary of State affirmed that Tunisia will continue its support for Palestinian diplomacy in all international forums and will work steadfastly to protect UNRWA and preserve its activities and services to Palestinian refugees.
