Brussels, Belgium – The United Nations today called on Israel to immediately halt the demolition of facilities belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem
and to return the buildings to the international organization without delay, according to Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq.
Haq emphasized that UN Secretary-General António Guterres considers the continued escalation against UNRWA “unacceptable and contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law,
including the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.”
blatant violation
These statements came after Israel, with the support of the army, began demolishing several large buildings and facilities
within the UNRWA compound in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of northern Jerusalem, where dozens of staff members previously worked.
Agency spokesperson Jonathan Fowler stated that Israeli authorities stormed the compound
this morning and forced security guards to leave before commencing the demolition with bulldozers.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the demolition, describing it as “a new level of blatant
and deliberate defiance of international law.” The Jerusalem Governorate, for its part, considered the move
“a dangerous escalation and a direct attack on a UN agency that enjoys international legal immunity,
” noting that the Israeli flag was raised over the demolished buildings instead of the UN flag.
Pressuring Israel to stop these practices
These developments come in the context of a decision by the Israeli Knesset last October to prevent UNRWA
from operating within the country and to prohibit officials from contacting the organization,
after Israel accused the agency of bias and alleged that some of its staff members had
ties to Hamas and participated in attacks against Israel in October 2023.
The United Nations continues to call on the international community to pressure Israel to halt these practices
in order to uphold the rights of Palestinian refugees and protect international institutions in accordance with international law.
