Sunday, July 20, 2025
Under the patronage of Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, Director of the Refugee Affairs Department and member of the PLO Executive Committee, the rally took place in front of UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza City. It was attended by members of the Popular Committee, the Reform and Tribal Committees, representatives of national forces and political factions, the National Reform Committees Commission, the Palestinian Mukhtars Association, the Centre for Customary and Civil Consultations, along with a wide spectrum of national, respected community figures including mukhtars, tribal leaders, and civic personalities.
Mr. Majid Okasha, head of the Popular Refugee Committee in Jabalia Camp, affirmed the full commitment of refugee committees across all Gaza camps to cooperate with UNRWA and support its continued presence to ensure its stability and sustainability. He emphasized that UNRWA is a legitimate UN agency—not a terrorist organization—and declared that any plot to dismantle it would fail and cannot substitute its role. He added that refugee communities, both inside and outside the camps, will resist Israeli plans targeting their cause and their legitimate right of return, oppose any alternative frameworks Israel is attempting to introduce, and firmly defend UNRWA’s mandate as defined by UN General Assembly Resolution 302.
Mr. Okasha further highlighted that UNRWA’s existence, established by a UN General Assembly resolution and its ongoing services, is an inherent right of Palestinian refugees until the realization of their return. The agency serves as the only living witness to their refugee status and embodies the international community's responsibility toward them. He warned that Israel’s efforts to abolish UNRWA would deprive over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza of essential relief, health, and educational services.
Through this statement, Mr. Okasha put forward the following demands:
1. Call on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to assume its responsibility in protecting UNRWA and ensuring it can fulfill its full mandate across its five areas of operation per Resolution 302, by delivering basic services to millions of Palestinian refugees and safeguarding their rights—until the political will emerges to achieve a just, comprehensive solution grounded in international law and relevant UN resolutions, including UNGA Resolution 194.
2. Urge donor countries to intensify support for UNRWA, including meeting its funding needs promptly.
3. Affirm UNRWA’s mandate under Resolution 302 and underscore its critical role in delivering humanitarian assistance.
4. Demand an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to allow UNRWA to resume its relief, educational, and health programs for refugees in Gaza.
