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Türkiye's ambassador to UNESCO sharply criticized Israel's efforts to shut down the United Nations agency serving Palestinian refugees, saying the country has no authority to dismantle an organization established by the UN General Assembly more than seven decades ago.
Ambassador Gulnur Aybet, Türkiye's permanent representative to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, made the remarks during the organization's 222nd Executive Board meeting, where she addressed the recent Gaza ceasefire and humanitarian crisis.
"We welcome the ceasefire in Gaza and hope that this ceasefire will put an end to the genocide that has been going on for two years," Aybet said, referring to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, known as UNRWA, which was created by a 1949 UN General Assembly resolution.
The agency has come under Israeli pressure in recent months, with Israeli officials moving to ban its operations. Aybet pushed back forcefully against those efforts.
"Israel has no right to ban the activities of UNRWA," she said, noting the agency was established in accordance with UN General Assembly decisions.
UNRWA operates schools, health clinics and provides aid to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. The agency was created in the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
Türkiye has positioned itself as a leading supporter of Palestinian causes. Aybet told the UNESCO gathering that Türkiye has delivered more than 100,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and was the first country to contribute to a Gaza relief fund established through UNESCO.
"Israel is using starvation as a tool of genocide against the Palestinians," Aybet said. "Almost all of the schools, hospitals and basic infrastructure in Gaza have been destroyed."
The ambassador praised mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt and the United States during ceasefire negotiations in which Türkiye also participated. She said Türkiye expects full implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
Aybet framed Israel's move against UNRWA as part of a broader campaign against Palestinian identity and livelihoods.
"We consider Israel's decision to ban UNRWA and close UNRWA schools as attempts to target Palestinian identity and the livelihoods of Palestinians," she said. "Therefore, we believe that we must continue to resist Israel's attempts to dismantle UNRWA. Turkey will continue its support for UNRWA."
She emphasized that UNRWA must continue its essential work "until the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is resolved within the framework of a just peace."
"We are aware of the invaluable role of UNRWA for the Palestinians," Aybet added, noting the agency's efforts to provide quality education to Palestinian children and youth despite challenging conditions.
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Türkiye continues to advocate for the establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the ambassador said. She added that her country would "continue our efforts to mobilize the international community" toward that goal.
Aybet also announced that an agreement was signed for UNRWA to open a representative office in Ankara, finalized during the 51st Council of Foreign Ministers meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in Istanbul this year.
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