On January 22, 2025, a meeting took place in New York between Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. The discussion centered on Qatar's commitment to supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which plays a crucial role in assisting the Palestinian people.
During the meeting, Al Thani emphasized Qatar's steadfast position in backing UNRWA, highlighting the country's humanitarian obligations and dedication to supporting the rights of the Palestinian people.
On October 28, 2024, the Israeli Knesset approved a ban on UNRWA's operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, with implementation set to begin in January 2025. Israel claims that some UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, a charge that the United Nations has denied, affirming the agency's neutrality.
Lazzarini underscored the importance of enhancing international support to ensure the continuation of UNRWA's essential services for Gaza's residents, including education, healthcare, and humanitarian relief.
The need for UNRWA's services has escalated dramatically due to the catastrophic repercussions of the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in significant civilian casualties. Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, more than 157,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured, with a considerable number being women and children, alongside over 14,000 reported missing.
In parallel, Israeli military and settler violence in the West Bank has intensified, leading to the deaths of 870 Palestinians and injuries to approximately 6,700 others, with 14,300 arrests, according to official Palestinian data.
For decades, Israel has maintained control over territories in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, resisting calls for withdrawal and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders.