Draft Resolution: Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (A/C.4/80/L.16)

11 November 2025

Eightieth session

Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)

Agenda item 49

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Guyana, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Viet Nam, Yemen and State of Palestine: draft resolution

Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including its resolutions 78/73 of 7 December 2023, ES-10/25 of 11 December 2024 and ES‑10/27 of 12 June 2025,

Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,

Recalling further Security Council resolution 2730 (2024) of 24 May 2024 on the protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel and all other relevant resolutions,

Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2024,[1]

Taking note of the letter dated 26 June 2025 from the Chair of the Advisory Commission of the Agency addressed to the Commissioner-General,[2]

Having considered the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, rendered on 22 October 2025, concerning the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory,

Recalling the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which was endorsed by the General Assembly in its decision 80/506 of 12 September 2025,[3] and underlined, inter alia, the indispensable role of UNRWA, and expressed the commitment to continue supporting, including through the appropriate funding, the Agency in the implementation of its mandate and welcomed its commitment and ongoing efforts to implement the recommendations of the Colonna Report,

Emphasizing the vital role of the Agency in providing essential education, health, relief and social services programmes to Palestine refugees, as well as life-saving humanitarian assistance in all the fields of operation, in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, namely in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,

Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967 and 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, stressing the necessity of an accelerated return of displaced persons, and calling for compliance with the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993[4] on the return of displaced persons,

Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory,

Expressing grave concern at the especially dire situation of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, including with regard to their safety, well-being and socioeconomic living conditions,

Expressing grave concern also at the catastrophic humanitarian situation of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip as a result of military attacks, severe restrictions on humanitarian access, mass forced displacement, spread of acute malnutrition and famine, disease and poverty, mass destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, refugee camps, hospitals and Agency schools and facilities serving as shelters for displaced persons, and loss of learning and livelihoods,

Expressing grave concern further about the extremely difficult socioeconomic conditions being faced by the Palestine refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as a result of the recurrent Israeli military operations, settler violence, severe movement restrictions, the construction of settlements and the wall, evictions, and the demolition of homes and livelihood properties causing forced transfers of civilians,

Having considered the letter dated 28 October 2024 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly[5] bringing to the attention of the General Assembly, on an urgent basis, developments which could prevent the Agency from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as mandated by the Assembly, and seeking its guidance and support,

Having considered also the letter dated 28 October 2024 from the Commissioner-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly warning, inter alia, that “the Agency is under such physical, political and operational attack – unprecedented in United Nations history – that implementation of its mandate may become impossible without decisive intervention by the General Assembly”,

Having considered further the letter dated 31 December 2024 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly, in response to resolution ES-10/26 of 11 December 2024, calling upon all parties to enable the Agency to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all areas of operation, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and to respect international humanitarian law, including the protection of United Nations and humanitarian facilities,

Condemning the killing, injury and detention contrary to international law of Agency staff, the attacks affecting its facilities in the Gaza Strip and its compound in occupied East Jerusalem, and incitement against the Agency, and demanding the cessation of all such actions,

Deploring the endangerment of the safety of the Agency’s staff and the unprecedented high number of casualties inflicted on Agency personnel in the Gaza Strip by military attacks, any breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, and the damage and destruction caused to the facilities and properties of the Agency, including schools sheltering displaced civilians, stressing the need to maintain the neutrality and safeguard the inviolability of United Nations premises, installations and equipment and the immunity of its personnel, and stressing the imperative of ensuring accountability,

Deploring also the measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Agency, including the “Law to Cease UNRWA Operations” and “Law to Cease UNRWA Operations in the State of Israel”, adopted on 28 October 2024 and enacted as of 30 January 2025, undermining the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in the Gaza Strip, and forcing the evacuation of the international staff of the Agency and the closure of its schools in East Jerusalem,

Recalling the affirmation by the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion of 22 October 2025 that Israel is prohibited from taking actions contrary to its obligations under articles V and VI of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations[6] against United Nations officials and experts on missions operating in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory,

Recalling also the Court’s affirmation that Israel must refrain from extending its domestic laws to the occupied territory in any manner inconsistent with its obligation not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination,

Deeply concerned about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement and access of Agency personnel, vehicles and goods, the injury, harassment and intimidation of the Agency staff, and denial of entry visas to Agency staff, which undermine and obstruct the work of the Agency, including its ability to provide life-saving assistance and essential basic and emergency services in accordance with its mandate,

Deeply concerned also about attempts to discredit the Agency, as well as attempts to undermine and terminate its operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, despite its proven operational capacity, record of effective provision of humanitarian and development assistance and consistent implementation of its mandate in accordance with relevant resolutions and its regulatory framework, even under the most difficult circumstances, and stressing the need to safeguard its vital humanitarian and development work and to enable the Agency to fully implement its mandate in support of Palestine refugees without interference,

Taking note of the strategic assessment of the Agency commissioned by the Secretary-General in the context of the UN80 Initiative, which highlighted the critical role of the Agency in providing basic services to millions of refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic and the international community’s reliance on the Agency as an effective and immediate response mechanism for emergencies, providing relief and assistance not only to Palestine refugees but to all in need, contributing to both humanitarian response and regional stability,

Recalling the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, led by Catherine Colonna, and its findings, welcoming the commitment affirmed by the Secretary-General and the Agency to fully implement its recommendations, and stressing the need to provide the Agency with the required resources for implementation,

Underscoring the importance of the Agency continuing to take timely and appropriate measures to address any credible allegations, and to ensure accountability for any violations of the Agency’s policies related to the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence,

Taking note of the finding in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 22 October 2025 that the United Nations response to alleged violations of the Agency’s neutrality by individual staff may be a strong indicator of the neutrality of the Agency as a whole,

Affirming the need for accountability and compensation to victims of violations of international law in accordance with international standards by all sides,

Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,[7] to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and underscoring the obligations of Israel thereunder as the occupying Power,

Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,

Recalling also the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,[8] Security Council resolution 2730 (2024) and all relevant resolutions concerning the safety and security of United Nations and humanitarian personnel, including General Assembly resolution 78/118 of 8 December 2023, as well as Security Council resolutions on the protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, including resolution 2175 (2014) of 29 August 2014 and resolution 2730 (2024),

Deeply concerned about the extremely critical financial situation of the Agency, caused by the structural underfunding of the Agency, as well as by rising needs and expenditures resulting from the deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions and the conflicts and rising instability in the region and their significant negative impact on the ability of the Agency to deliver essential services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency, recovery, reconstruction and development programmes in all fields of operation,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,[9] submitted pursuant to resolution 71/93 of 6 December 2016, and the request contained therein for broad consultations to explore all ways and means, including through voluntary and assessed contributions, to ensure that the Agency’s funding is sufficient, predictable and sustained for the duration of its mandate, and considering the recommendations contained in the report,

Taking note also of the report of 31 May 2025 of the Commissioner-General, submitted pursuant to paragraph 57 of the report of the Secretary-General and in follow-up to the update to the special report of 3 August 2015 of the Commissioner-General,[10] submitted pursuant to paragraph 21 of General Assembly resolution 302 (IV), regarding the severe financial crisis of the Agency and the negative implications for the continued delivery of core Agency programmes to the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation,

Expressing appreciation for the efforts of donors and host countries to respond to the Agency’s unprecedented financial crisis, including through generous, additional contributions and, where possible, continued increases in voluntary contributions and agreements for multi-year funding, while acknowledging the steadfast support of all other donors to the Agency,

Welcoming the contributions made to the Agency’s emergency appeals, including to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and calling urgently upon the international community to continue its support in light of the immense needs and the fact that these appeals remain severely underfunded,

Noting that contributions have not been predictable enough or sufficient to meet growing needs and remedy the persistent shortfalls, thereby undermining the Agency’s operations and efforts to promote human development and meet Palestine refugees’ basic needs, and stressing the need for further efforts to comprehensively address the recurrent funding shortfalls affecting the Agency’s operations,

Recognizing the Agency’s extensive efforts to rapidly develop innovative and diversified ways to address its financial shortfall and mobilize resources, including through the expansion of the donor base and partnerships with United Nations entities, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society, including through special digital campaigns,

Commending the Agency for the measures taken to address the financial crisis, despite difficult operational circumstances, including through the implementation of the strategic plan 2023–2028 and various internal measures to contain expenditures, reduce operational and administrative costs, maximize the use of resources and reduce the funding shortfalls, and expressing profound concern that, despite such measures, the Agency’s programme budget, which is funded primarily by voluntary contributions from Member States and intergovernmental organizations, faces persistent shortfalls that continue to threaten the delivery of the Agency’s core programmes of assistance to the Palestine refugees,

Recalling its resolution 65/272 of 18 April 2011, in which it requested the Secretary-General to continue to support the institutional strengthening of the Agency, and stressing the need to support the Agency’s capacity to uphold its mandate and to avert the serious humanitarian, political and security risks that would result from any interruption or suspension of its vital work,

Recognizing that the recurring and growing financial shortfalls directly affecting the sustainability of the Agency’s operations need to be remedied by examining new funding modalities designed to put the Agency on a stable financial footing to enable it to effectively carry out its core programmes in accordance with its mandate and commensurate with humanitarian needs,

Welcoming the joint efforts of host countries and donors to mobilize support for the Agency, including through extraordinary ministerial meetings, inter alia, the most recent ministerial meeting hosted by Jordan, Brazil and Spain on 25 September 2025, aimed at urgently addressing the Agency’s funding shortfall and the need for predictable multi-year funding, expanding donor support for the Agency and reaffirming support for its mandate,

Emphasizing the continuing need for assistance to Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries, including in particular in Lebanon, where an unprecedented financial crisis is further affecting socioeconomic conditions among the refugees and exacerbating already high unemployment and poverty rates,

Aware of the valuable work done by the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, and recalling the need for the protection of all civilians in situations of armed conflict,

Recognizing the efforts of Agency staff in all fields of operation to uphold the Agency’s mandate, including the healthcare staff for their dedication in responding to the profound stress caused to the health system by the high number of civilian casualties and damage and destruction of healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip and the education staff for their efforts to provide continuity in education to the extent possible in times of emergency,

Recalling the statement of 15 July 1999 and the declarations adopted on 5 December 2001 and on 17 December 2014[11] by the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, including the call upon Parties to facilitate the activities of the Agency, to guarantee its protection and to refrain from levying taxes and imposing undue financial burdens,

Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel,

Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,[12]

Stressing the urgent need for the provision of the necessary humanitarian assistance and funding support for the advancement of reconstruction and recovery in the Gaza Strip in accordance, inter alia, with the Arab-Islamic Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Development Plan for Gaza,[13] including by ensuring the timely facilitation of construction projects, including extensive shelter repair, and the need for the accelerated implementation of other urgent United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities, and calling upon Israel to ensure the expedited and unimpeded import of all necessary construction materials into the Gaza Strip and to reduce the burdensome cost of importation of Agency supplies,

Stressing also that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and that the ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, including through the sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and must ensure the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides,

Affirming the need to support the Palestinian Government in its assumption of full government responsibilities in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in all fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza’s crossing points,

Reaffirming that the effective functioning of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains essential in all fields of operation,

1. Affirms its full support for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in all of its fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
2. Reaffirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the Agency and the importance of its unimpeded operation and provision of services, including emergency assistance, for the well-being, protection and human development of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees in line with the relevant resolutions;
3. Stresses that, at a time of heightened conflict and instability in the Middle East, the Agency continues to play an indispensable role in ameliorating the plight of the more than 6 million Palestine refugees registered with the Agency and in providing a crucial measure of stability in the region, including in Gaza in the post-ceasefire period and including by mitigating the consequences of alarming trends and severe crises in the Agency’s areas of operation, including increasing violence, marginalization and poverty;
4. Expresses its appreciation for the tireless efforts of the Commissioner-General and the staff of the Agency in all fields of operation in fulfilment of the mandate of the Agency and respect for the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, particularly in the light of the dire humanitarian conditions, instability and unprecedented crises faced during the past year;
5. Commends the Agency for its extraordinary efforts, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies on the ground, to provide emergency humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food and medical aid, to refugees and affected civilians during periods of crisis and conflict, and recognizes its exemplary capacity to mobilize in emergency situations while continuously carrying out its core human development programmes, particularly its education programme;
6. Endorses the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the Agency to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, while reaffirming the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967;
7. Emphasizes in particular that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains the backbone of all humanitarian response and basic services for Palestine refugees in Gaza and the other fields of operation in the region, and affirms that no organization can replace or substitute the Agency’s capacity and mandate to serve Palestine refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance;
8. Underscores in this regard the critical role also to be played by the Agency in implementing urgently needed recovery and stabilization efforts in a post-ceasefire period in the Gaza Strip, considering its personnel capacity, operational agility, network of facilities, decades of proven humanitarian and human development expertise and cost-effective operations in comparison to other organizations;
9. Recalls the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, and underscores the commitment to continue supporting the Agency in the implementation of its mandate, including through the appropriate funding, as well as its commitment and ongoing efforts to implement the recommendations of the Colonna Report, and that, upon the achievement of a just solution to the Palestine refugee issue, to be agreed upon in accordance with resolution 194 (III), the Agency will hand over its public-like services in the Palestinian territory to empowered and prepared Palestinian institutions;
10. Recognizes the critical contribution the Agency can make in implementing the New York Declaration, the Arab-Islamic Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Development Plan for Gaza, and other major international initiatives, including the ceasefire agreement, as it serves as a pillar for regional stability, including through the scaling-up of humanitarian assistance, restoration of education, health, water, sanitation and other basic services, and support for Palestinian capacity-building, and requests the Secretary-General to inform the General Assembly as soon as possible of how the Agency can concretely contribute in this regard;
11. Strongly warns against any attempts to dismantle or diminish the operations and mandate of the Agency, recognizing that any interruption or suspension of its work would have severe humanitarian consequences for millions of Palestine refugees who depend on the Agency’s services and also implications for the region;
12. Deplores the legislation adopted by the Israeli Knesset on 28 October 2024 and enacted as of January 2025, and calls upon the Israeli Government to abide by its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of the Agency and uphold its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip, including the provision of sorely needed basic services to the civilian population;
13. Also deplores breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, the failure to accord the property and assets of the Organization immunity, the failure to protect United Nations personnel, premises and property and any disruption caused to Agency operations by such violations;
14. Condemns the killing and injury of Agency personnel, including over 300 staff members among at least 565[14] humanitarian workers killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since October 2023;
15. Demands that all parties act, in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions, to enable the Agency to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all fields of operation, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and respect international humanitarian law obligations, including the protection of United Nations and humanitarian facilities;
16. Also demands that Israel respect the mandate of the Agency and its privileges and immunities and act forthwith to enable its operations to proceed without impediment or restriction in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, including, inter alia, to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip in accordance with the mandate of the Agency and to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, including by fully lifting the restrictions impeding or delaying the import of necessary construction materials and supplies for the reconstruction and repair of damaged and destroyed refugee shelters and the implementation of urgently needed civilian infrastructure projects in the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank;
17. Reiterates its demand that Israel comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law, including, inter alia, to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, in full cooperation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care, to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip;
18. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;
19. Underscores the findings in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 22 October 2025 relevant to the mandate and operations of the Agency, including, inter alia, the Court’s findings regarding the Agency’s impartiality and neutrality, in line with paragraphs 114 and 118 of the advisory opinion, and that Israel, as the occupying Power, and in view of the scale and urgency of needs of the Palestinian population and that it is inadequately supplied with humanitarian aid and essential basic services, is obligated to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including the Agency, in accordance with international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, and with the obligation of Member States under the Charter of the United Nations to cooperate in good faith with the United Nations and its entities;
20. Also underscores the Court’s reaffirmation of the permanent responsibility of the United Nations towards the question of Palestine until it is justly resolved in all its aspects and the Court’s recognition that, since its establishment, the Agency has been an indispensable provider of humanitarian relief and basic services for the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip and the wider region, and that Israel is not entitled to unilaterally decide on the presence and activities of United Nations entities in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, nor unilaterally revoke the privileges and immunities accorded to the United Nations and its personnel, including the Agency;
21. Calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations in all aspects and to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its installations and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, at all times, to comply with international humanitarian law, and to cease obstructing the movement and access of the staff, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and levying taxes, extra fees and charges on the Agency;
22. Underscores the imperative of reparations, in accordance with international law, for all losses, damage and destruction sustained by the Agency in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and calls upon the Secretary-General to undertake the necessary assessments to this end;
23. Calls upon all parties to ensure respect for and the protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, to respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance and to respect and protect the inviolability of United Nations premises;
24. Calls upon the Agency to continue to fully implement its high-level action plan for the implementation of the 50 recommendations of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality (Colonna Report) and to keep donors and other Member States regularly informed of the progress, welcomes the commitment affirmed by the Secretary-General and the Agency to fully implement the recommendations and the considerable progress already achieved, and urges Member States to provide the necessary political and financial support to enable timely and effective implementation;
25. Stresses the need to support the capacity of the Agency to uphold its mandate and to avert the serious humanitarian, political and security risks that would result from any interruption or suspension of its vital work;
26. Endorses the efforts of the Commissioner-General to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as is practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are internally displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance as a result of recent crises in the Agency’s fields of operation;
27. Encourages the Agency, in close cooperation with other relevant United Nations entities, to continue to make progress in addressing the needs, rights and protection of children, women and persons with disabilities in its operations, including through the provision of necessary psychosocial and humanitarian support, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child,[15] the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women[16] and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;[17]
28. Also encourages the Agency to continue to reduce the vulnerability and improve the self-reliance and resilience of Palestine refugees through its programmes;
29. Recognizes the acute protection needs of Palestine refugees across the region, and encourages the Agency’s efforts to contribute to a coordinated and sustained response in accordance with international law, including the Agency’s protection strategic framework;
30. Commends the Agency for its humanitarian and psychosocial support programmes and other initiatives that provide recreational, cultural and educational activities for children in all fields, including in the Gaza Strip, recognizing their positive contribution, calls for full support for such initiatives by donor and host countries, and encourages the building and strengthening of partnerships to facilitate and enhance the provision of these services;
31. Appeals for the continued maintenance and enhancement of the Agency’s refugee registration system and the preservation of its historical archives, and emphasizes the importance of ensuring that these tools remain accessible to refugee families as a means of safeguarding their rights and their heritage, pending a just and lasting resolution;
32. Welcomes the efforts of donors, organizations and host countries to respond to the Agency’s unprecedented financial crisis, including through generous, additional contributions, including to the Agency’s emergency appeals;
33. Calls upon Member States and relevant stakeholders to provide the widest possible support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, in order to enable the Agency to uphold its mandate;
34. Expresses its deep appreciation to all donor countries and organizations that have, inter alia, sustained, accelerated or increased their contributions to the Agency, helping to alleviate its recurrent financial crises, to mitigate imminent risks to its core and emergency programming and to prevent an interruption of essential assistance to Palestine refugees;
35. Welcomes the Statement of Shared Commitments on UNRWA, initiated by Jordan, Kuwait and Slovenia on 22 May 2024, which expressed support for the Agency to effectively uphold the mandate conferred on the Agency by the General Assembly in all fields of operation in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic and emphasized the indispensable role of the Agency in its 75 years of existence and work in assisting the Palestine refugees and its contribution to regional stability;
36. Expresses its appreciation for the important support and cooperation provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties;
37. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities;
38. Takes note of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East[18] and the efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work;
39. Urges immediate efforts to address the financial and operational crises affecting the Agency due, inter alia, to rising needs and expenditures resulting from the deterioration of the socioeconomic conditions, unprecedented humanitarian crises and the conflicts and rising instability in the region and their significant negative impact on the ability of the Agency to deliver essential services to the Palestine refugees, especially in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Lebanon;
40. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the Agency[19] and the conclusions and recommendations contained therein, including the proposal for an increased assessed contribution from the regular budget of the United Nations;
41. Recognizes the Agency’s extremely dire financial situation and the necessity to strengthen its capacity to respond to the increased and emerging needs related to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, as well as to continue to strengthen and sustain the Agency’s compliance with the recommendations of the Independent Review (Colonna Report) through increased contributions, including from the assessed regular budget of the United Nations;
42. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a proposal for funding requirements in the context of the proposed programme budget for 2027, in support of international staff requirements, in accordance with resolution 3331 B (XXIX) of 17 December 1974;
43. Calls upon the members of the Advisory Commission and the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to consider the relevant recommendations in the report of the Secretary-General, including to help the Agency to address resource mobilization challenges and to actively assist the Commissioner-General in the efforts to create sustainable, sufficient and predictable support for the Agency’s operations;
44. Requests the Commissioner-General to continue efforts to maintain and increase traditional donor support and to enhance income from non-traditional donors, including through partnerships with public and private entities and exploration of financial avenues in relation to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals;[20]
45. Urges States and organizations to actively pursue partnerships with and innovative support for the Agency, including as recommended in paragraphs 47, 48 and 50 of the report of the Secretary-General,[21] including through the establishment of endowments, trust funds or revolving fund mechanisms and assistance to the Agency to access humanitarian, development and peace and security trust funds and grants, as well as financing from international financial development institutions;
46. Appeals to States and organizations for voluntary contributions to the Agency, including multi-year funding agreements, full and timely disbursements of pledges and an increase in such contributions where possible, in particular for the programme budget of the Agency, as well as for its emergency, recovery and reconstruction programmes as set out in its appeals and response plans, to support the mandate of the Agency, to alleviate its recurrent underfunding, to mitigate imminent risks to its core and emergency programming and to prevent the interruption of essential assistance to the Palestine refugees and the dire repercussions of any such interruption;
47. Reiterates its appeals to all States, the specialized agencies, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment their contributions to the programme budget of the Agency, to increase their special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees and to contribute to the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships;
48. Calls upon the Commissioner-General to include, in the annual reporting to the General Assembly, assessments on the progress made to remedy the recurrent funding shortfalls of the Agency and ensure sustained, sufficient and predictable support for the Agency’s operations, including through the implementation of the relevant provisions of the present resolution;
49. Recognizes the important and indispensable role of the Agency in its 75 years of existence and work in assisting the Palestine refugees throughout its five fields of operations and contributing to regional stability; underscores that it is irreplaceable, and stresses the importance of cooperation of all States and other United Nations bodies with the Agency to enable the effective implementation of its mandate in all fields of operation until the realization of a just solution to the question of Palestine, including for the Palestine refugees, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
    

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         [1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/80/13).

         [2] Ibid., pp. 7 and 8.

         [3] Decision 80/506.

         [4] A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

         [5] A/79/558.

         [6] Resolution 22 A (I).

         [7] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

         [8] Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457.

         [9] A/71/849.

        [10] A/70/272, annex.

        [11] A/69/711-S/2015/1, annex.

        [12] Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I.

        [13] See A/79/820-S/2025/151.

        [14] United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, situation report of 9 October 2025.

        [15] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531.

        [16] Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378.

        [17] Ibid., vol. 2515, No. 44910.

        [18] A/79/329.

        [19] A/71/849.

        [20] See resolution 70/1.

        [21] A/71/849.