MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman voiced its categorical rejection of the Israeli occupation forces’ move to storm the Palestinian city of Rafah, which is now sheltering hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians displaced from the northern section of the Gaza Strip.
Oman noted that this chaotic situation was a direct outcome of Israel’s brutal aggression that has left around 30,000 dead and tens of thousands wounded or missing.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Oman pointed out that Israel’s action was in flagrant defiance of the international law and international human charters. It also warned against the serious fallout of this persistent and indiscriminate aggression against the Gaza Strip.
In the statement, Oman reiterated its plea to the international community to take concrete measures to put to practice the global political positions to address Israel’s arrogance and force it to accept a ceasefire and provide humanitarian needs for the displaced population in the Gaza Strip.
Oman urged the international community to hold Israel fully accountable for the catastrophic targeting of civilians, property and facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, in refugee camps in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinians relying on the UN agency UNRWA for schooling and healthcare fear key services will stop as donors have paused funding over accusations staff members took part in October 7 attack.
Most of the focus on the fate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees has been on its emergency operations in war-devastated Gaza where it is critical to an aid effort for the enclave's 2.3 million inhabitants.
But the agency is also a lifeline for Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, including in the West Bank where it serves more than 870,000 people, running 96 schools and 43 primary healthcare facilities.
"If they cut off aid from UNRWA, there will be no help of any kind for residents, especially in refugee camps because they rely on UNRWA," said Mohammad al Masri, a resident of Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem.
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