Muslim Council of Elders condemns Israel’s announcement to confiscate UNRWA HQ

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, has strongly condemned the Israeli authorities' decision to confiscate the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem, suspend its operations, and the plan to build a settlement in its place. In a statement today, the Council asserted that this action poses a serious threat to the established historical and legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Muslim Council of Elders expressed its absolute rejection of any attacks on humanitarian facilities or any actions that endanger the lives of their staff. At the same time, the Council commended the ongoing efforts of UNRWA in supporting the Palestinian people, who continue to face severe humanitarian challenges due to the prolonged Israeli occupation. The Council renewed its call on the international community and all relevant actors to intensify and unify their effo rts to bring about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and to halt illegal practices that undermine the two-state solution and jeopardise the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Source: Emirates News Agency