ANKARA: Trkiye on Thursday criticized Israel’s decision to prohibit the activities of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Palestinian territories, describing it as a ‘blatant violation of international law.’ ‘We condemn this step, which marks a new phase in Israel’s policies of occupation and annexation aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians from their own land,’ the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry further noted that Israel’s decision appears to be an effort to deny Palestine refugees their right to return. UNRWA, established by the UN General Assembly in 1949, has been operating with robust support from UN member states, providing humanitarian aid and essential services to millions of Palestinians under challenging conditions.

Trkiye urged the international community to back UNRWA and take necessary steps toward regional peace. ‘Trkiye stands unwavering in its support of UNRWA and in defending the rights of the Palestinian people,’ the ministry said.

The new Israeli ban, effective from Thursday, restricts UNRWA activities in what Israel’s Supreme Court designates as ‘the sovereign territory of the state of Israel,’ excluding Gaza and the West Bank but including occupied East Jerusalem. The UN reported that UNRWA’s international staff had already evacuated from the East Jerusalem office.

Additionally, the Israeli law prohibits contact between UNRWA staff and Israeli authorities, leaving the impact on operations across Palestinian territories uncertain. Last year, Israel accused UNRWA staff of participating in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Palestinian group Hamas. However, a UN Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation could not authenticate the Israeli information supporting these allegations.