Paris, November 2024. The arbitrary decision of the Israeli parliament to suspend the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) was the subject of a strong denunciation in the framework of the special session of the UNESCO Executive Council, formally requested by Cuba along with 11 other countries, under the theme: "Supporting for the continuity of UNRWA's educational activities in the occupied Palestinian territory."
In her speech at the meeting, Cuban Ambassador María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro strongly condemned the approval by the Israeli legislature of laws that prohibit the action of UNRWA, which she described as violations of the United Nations Charter and Israel's obligations under international law.
“The Israeli government, not content with the unprecedented genocide unleashed against the Palestinian people, which has taken thousands of innocent lives, continues to escalate the spiral of atrocities, by attempting to restrict the necessary humanitarian assistance in the occupied territories and deepen the suffering of the Palestinian population,” said the Cuban diplomat in her speech.
In this context, the representative of the Island praised the work of UNRWA for more than 75 years, highlighting especially its education program, thanks to which hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children and young people have benefited from free basic education and technical and vocational training for the future.
By reaffirming the indispensable nature of UNRWA in addressing the pressing needs of Palestinian refugees, the official urged to defend the continuity of its work. “Support for UNRWA is not only a humanitarian obligation, it is also a moral and political imperative to defend the dignity, rights and future of Palestinian refugees,” she said.
More than 70 delegations took part in the debate, which led to a decision adopted, co-sponsored by around 80 countries, demanding the permanence of the organization in the occupied territories.