Foreign ministers express support for UNRWA, denounce Israeli raid
A group of foreign ministers from the Middle East and Asia have reaffirmed their support for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, stressing that UNRWA plays an “essential role” in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“The Ministers stress that UNRWA’s role is irreplaceable. No other entity possesses the infrastructure, expertise, and field presence required to meet the needs of Palestinian refugees or to ensure continuity of services at the necessary scale,” foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye and Qatar wrote in the statement.
The ministers also condemned Israel’s raid of UNRWA’s headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem this week as an “unacceptable escalation” that constitutes “a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises”.
#Statement | The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, and Qatar reaffirm the indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in safeguarding the rights and well-being… pic.twitter.com/Yo65XuaVhj
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 12, 2025
UN calls for protection of Palestinians in the West Bank
A spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres says continued Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are having “devastating” effects.
“Since the start of the year and as of today, an average of five such attacks has been recorded each day,” Farhan Haq told reporters during a briefing in New York.
“We call for the protection of Palestinians across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – including by halting punitive and other unlawful demolitions and preventing attacks by settlers.”
As we’ve been reporting, Palestinians in the West Bank have faced a surge in Israeli settler and military violence since the war on Gaza began. The UN said at least 1,034 Palestinians – including 224 children – were killed in the West Bank between October 7, 2023 and the start of this month.
Latest developments in occupied West Bank
The Israeli army continue its attacks in the Palestinian territory. Here are the latest updates as reported by the local media:
- The Israeli forces stormed the towns of Faqqua and Qabatiya in Jenin and fired stun grenades amid clashes with Palestinians.
- Troops also raided the towns of Anabta, east of Tulkarem, setting up checkpoints, carrying out interrogations and firing stun grenades.
- The Israeli forces have detained and questioned the wife of a former Palestinian prisoner in the town of Deir Samet, west of Hebron, before releasing her later.
- A woman and a young man were also injured when Israeli troops assaulted them in the town of Deir Samet.
Heavy rains bring misery to displaced Palestinians in West Bank
In the occupied West Bank, heavy rains are leaving displaced families struggling to stay dry inside overcrowded shelters. Israel has forced more than 30,000 Palestinians from Jenin’s refugee camps.
Authorities warn that continued rainfall could worsen living conditions for thousands of people, particularly those living in temporary shelters.
