Saudi Arabia slams Israeli on plan to turn UNRWA’s Jerusalem HQ into apartments

 

Saudi Arabia condemns “in the strongest terms” Israel’s decision to turn the Jerusalem headquarters of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency into apartments.

Last week, the Israel Land Authority said it was preparing plans to turn the Ma’alot Dafna complex into 1,440 housing units, after telling UNRWA it must evacuate the premises.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry notes in an English-language statement: “The Kingdom rejects the continued blatant Israeli violations of international laws and resolutions…and its systematic political and military targeting of the United Nations agencies and its relief organizations.

“The Kingdom also rejects the continued endangerment of the lives of relief workers, expressing its support for UNRWA in its humanitarian mission to provide relief to Palestinian refugees.”

Israel has long pushed for UNRWA’s closure, arguing that it helps perpetuate the conflict with the Palestinians, and has stepped up such efforts since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

Source: The Times of Israel