The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its concern after the Israeli Knesset passed a law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

She added in a statement on Wednesday that since 1953, Japan has contributed financially to UNRWA and worked closely with the agency to assist Palestinian refugees. UNRWA plays an indispensable role in providing humanitarian assistance, as well as health care and education to millions of Palestinian refugees, not only in the Gaza Strip, but throughout the Middle East region.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry continued: “We are deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation that has become dire due to the prolonged fighting in the Gaza Strip, as well as the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in areas including the West Bank and Lebanon. It is of utmost importance to ensure a sustainable enabling environment for humanitarian assistance activities by UNRWA and other international organizations, and Japan strongly urges the Government of Israel to maintain such an environment in a sustainable manner.”