Christian Saunders
ON THE RECORD · 9 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“until the General Assembly decides otherwise, or there is a durable solution to the Palestine question,”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders declared that UNRWA will continue its services until the General Assembly decides otherwise or a durable political solution is reached.
“If UNRWA is defunded and UNRWA is eliminated then they are hoping that the issue of the refugees, the Palestine refugees, will go away,”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders described the wider campaign against UNRWA as an effort to eliminate the issue of Palestinian refugees.
“Three hundred and forty young people are not going to get the education, not going to get the training they need,”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders lamented that the seizure of the Qalandiya centre would deprive hundreds of young Palestinians of education.
“might doesn’t win out”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders accused Israel of violating UN premises following the raid on the Qalandiya Training Centre.
“Which means that the right of return, reparations, and compensation would go away, as well.”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders linked the campaign against UNRWA to the elimination of Palestinian refugee rights including return, reparations, and compensation.
“The United Nations is the sum of its member states, and its member states need to have the collective determination to address this issue. And for over seven decades, this has not happened.”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders said member states need collective determination to address the issue, which has not happened for over seven decades.
“opportunity to lead a full and dignified life”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders said students from disadvantaged families would miss out on skills training due to the facility's takeover.
“I don’t think the United Nations has the power to say: ‘You know, this is not going to continue to happen,’”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders acknowledged the limits of the UN's ability to prevent further Israeli incursions without collective action from member states.
“We’re a humanitarian organisation; we’re a development organisation. We are given our mandate by the United Nations General Assembly to provide critical services,”
Christian Saunders · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Saunders emphasized that UNRWA's mandate comes directly from the UN General Assembly.