JEDDAH, August 25, 2026 (WAFA) - The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, strongly condemned the Israeli occupation authorities' raid on and evacuation of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Qalandiya area, north of occupied Jerusalem.
In a statement, he considered the raid on and evacuation of UNRWA's headquarters a new escalation in the targeting of the agency and its facilities in occupied Jerusalem.
The Secretary-General warned against the continued targeting of United Nations institutions, particularly UNRWA and its facilities, which he stressed represents a dangerous escalation targeting the Palestinian refugee issue and their rights, and deepens their humanitarian suffering.
He emphasized that the agency plays an essential and irreplaceable role in providing educational, health, relief, and social services to Palestinian refugees, given the ongoing Palestinian refugee crisis.
He called upon the international community, particularly the Security Council and the United Nations, to uphold its responsibilities in halting Israeli actions against UNRWA and its facilities, ensuring their protection and the protection of their staff, and enabling them to continue providing services to Palestinian refugees without hindrance, in accordance with their legal mandate and relevant UN resolutions.
The Secretary-General reiterated the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) position and its full support for UNRWA and its legal mandate, emphasizing that its continued operation represents an international responsibility and a living testament to the international commitment to the Palestinian refugee issue until a just and lasting solution is reached, in accordance with international law, guaranteeing their legitimate rights, foremost among them the right of return.
He also reaffirmed the OIC’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their inalienable national rights, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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