New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the Israeli entity to withdraw its decision to halt the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem and to evacuate all buildings it operates by Thursday.

According to Qatar News Agency, Guterres expressed his regret over the decision and urged the Israeli government to retract it, citing the legal framework related to UNRWA's activities and its essential nature. He emphasized that any actions obstructing the agency's operations would severely undermine the provision of humanitarian aid in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The UN Secretary-General highlighted that the General Assembly, in its resolution during the tenth emergency special session on December 11, 2024, confirmed that no organization could replace UNRWA's capacity and mandate to deliver the required services and assistance. The resolution underscored the agency's irreplaceable role in the region.

On October 28, 2024, the Israeli Knesset approved the ban on UNRWA activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. This decision is set to take effect at the end of January.