By The South Asia Times

UNITED NATIONS -  Pakistan has accused Israel of seeking to undermine the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees as part of a broader strategy to erase Palestinian identity, restrict humanitarian assistance and weaken aspirations for an independent Palestinian state.

Speaking at the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Pakistan's First Secretary Ansar Shah said Israeli actions against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) threatened an institution that has served millions of Palestinian refugees for more than seven decades.

"By undermining the Agency, Israel seeks to remove the last remaining structure that sustains Palestinian refugees," Shah told the committee.

Pakistan strongly condemned Israeli legislation seeking to ban UNRWA's operations, revoke its immunities and designate it a terrorist organization, describing the measures as violations of international law and the UN Charter.

Shah said further legislative measures adopted in December 2025, alongside actions against UNRWA facilities in occupied East Jerusalem, including Sheikh Jarrah, Qalandia and Shuafat, had intensified pressure on the agency.

He argued that no UN member state had the authority to dismantle an agency established by the General Assembly.

Pakistan also referred to the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion of October 22, 2025, saying Israel was obligated to facilitate humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and its agencies, particularly UNRWA.

Shah paid tribute to UNRWA personnel working under dangerous conditions, saying nearly 400 agency staff members had been killed in Gaza since October 2023.

He described the agency as an indispensable lifeline for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, providing education, healthcare, emergency assistance and shelter to displaced families.

"With its unique mandate, extensive operational footprint and decades of experience, UNRWA remains indispensable. No other organization can substitute for its capacity and responsibility towards Palestine refugees," he said.

Pakistan warned that attempts to delegitimize, defund or dismantle the agency must stop, calling on the international community to ensure the safety of its personnel and facilities and guarantee full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

The Pakistani diplomat also highlighted UNRWA's financial difficulties, saying the agency was facing a funding shortfall exceeding $100 million.

He urged countries to provide sustained and predictable financial support, including consideration of appropriate assistance from the UN regular budget, rather than relying on temporary funding pledges.

Shah stressed that the issue of Palestinian refugees extended beyond humanitarian assistance, reaffirming their right of return and other rights under international law, including UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (III).

Pakistan reiterated its support for Palestinian self-determination and statehood, saying its backing for UNRWA would continue until a just and lasting political settlement of the Palestinian question was achieved.

Addressing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, Shah welcomed the peace initiatives launched through US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan and the agreement reached at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit.

He commended Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States for their role in facilitating negotiations, expressing hope that the efforts would lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities and sustainable reconstruction in Gaza.

However, he said lasting peace would require addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, including ending the Israeli occupation and resolving the question of Palestinian refugees.

Pakistan called for a credible, time-bound political process leading to an independent, sovereign and geographically contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital.

"Pakistan stands with the Palestinian people in their quest to exercise their right to self-determination and in their just demand for peace and justice," Shah said.