The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany – David Lammy, Jean-Noel Barrot, and Annalena Baerbock, respectively – issued on Friday a joint statement expressing their grave concern about Israel's decision to ban the United Nations (UN) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from its territory.
"We ask the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations and live up to its responsibility to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance and the provision of basic services to the civilian population," the three wrote in the letter shared by the British Foreign Office. "No other entity or UN Agency currently has the capacity or infrastructure to replace UNRWA's mandate and experience."
On the other hand, the United States backed Israel's decision, noting there could be other channels to provide assistance to the Palestinian population.
