Turkey condemns US decision to cut UNRWA funds

On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the US over its decision to end funding for the UN Palestine refugee agency.

"The decision of the United States will affect the lives of over 5 million Palestinians in a negative way. At the same time, this decision will harm the vision of finding a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue; regional peace and stability," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement came a day after US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington "will no longer commit further funding" to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The ministry said the US decision was a "major disappointment".

"Under these circumstances, UNRWA's continuing uninterrupted operation has become a legitimacy test and a conscientious task in terms of the international community," it added.