Date: 5/12/2025
The PLO Refugee Affairs Department Welcomes the UN Resolution to Renew UNRWA's Mandate
Dr. Ahmed Abu Holi, Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Head of the Refugee Affairs Department, welcomed the UN General Assembly's overwhelming vote to extend UNRWA's mandate for another three years, from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2029, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of General Assembly Resolution 194 (III), and two other resolutions, one of which concerns assistance to Palestine refugees and was supported by 151 countries, with 10 voting against and 14 abstaining. The second resolution, concerning the assets of Palestinian refugees and the revenues derived from them, received the support of 157 countries, with 10 countries voting against and 9 abstaining.
Dr. Abu Holi noted that the resolution to extend UNRWA's mandate, entitled "The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)," was supported by 145 countries, opposed by 10, and with 18 abstentions. He explained that the overwhelming majority vote confirms the strong political support UNRWA enjoys in continuing its services, as mandated by Resolution 302, until a just solution is found for the Palestinian refugee issue in accordance with Resolution 194. This reflects the international community's responsibility towards UNRWA and the protection of the rights of Palestinian refugees.
He said: "The UN renewal of UNRWA's mandate coincides with a chronic financial crisis facing the agency, and with politically motivated attacks led by the Israeli occupation state to distort its image and weaken it by depleting its financial resources. This is being done by preventing donors from providing financial support, in an attempt to end its services, dismantle it, and transfer its responsibilities to host governments and similar UN organizations."
He noted that UNRWA is facing a significant budget deficit estimated at approximately $200 million. From December 1st of this year until the end of the first quarter of next year (2026), UNRWA called on member states that voted to renew its mandate to address the financial shortfall, enabling it to provide life-saving services to approximately 6.2 million Palestinian refugees who rely on its services in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Abu Holi explained that the strong support UNRWA received from the United Nations in renewing its mandate constituted a firm response to the plans to end it and the practices of the occupying power, and conveyed a powerful message that UNRWA is indispensable and irreplaceable.
He emphasized the need to translate the political support for UNRWA expressed by UN member states through the renewal of its mandate into sufficient and sustainable financial support that would enable UNRWA to carry out its services in accordance with the mandate granted to it by Resolution 302. He also called on the United Nations to take deterrent measures to compel Israel, the occupying power, to freeze its laws that prohibit UNRWA activities in occupied East Jerusalem and undermine its mandate in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and to cease its violations of the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the UN Charter, and relevant UN resolutions.
Dr. Abu Holi thanked the countries that voted in favor of renewing UNRWA's mandate and all the free people of the world who stood in support of the Palestinian people and their just cause. He also thanked the host countries of Palestinian refugees (Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon), as well as the Arab Republic of Egypt and the League of Arab States, for their efforts and political and diplomatic initiatives to support the renewal of UNRWA's mandate and to preserve its mandate and prevent any infringement upon it.
