UN “Condemns in the Strongest Terms” Israeli Destruction of UNRWA Facilities

United Nations

Sphinx News: Ahmed Ali

Emblematic of its continued provocation against NGOs and other intergovernmental organizations, Israeli authorities have reportedly bulldozed UNRWA facilities in occupied East Jerusalem, in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Both UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) officials and the Secretary-General himself have “condemned the development in the strongest terms,” positing that this belligerent act is a grave violation of international law and runs contrary to Israel’s obligations to uphold the sovereign immunity and legal protections of all relevant UN facilities.

As the development has largely proceeded within the last 24 hours, UNRWA officials released a statement prior to the destruction of their facilities, noting that “Israeli forces had confiscated staff devices and forced them out of their headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.” Subsequently, reports indicate that Israeli authorities bulldozed buildings inside the headquarters of the United Nations agency, drawing a staunch response from UNRWA. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees contended that the latest Israeli operations constituted “an unprecedented attack not only against UNRWA and its premises, but a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations.”

UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini was particularly vocal in his contestation of the actions taken by Israeli authorities. Lazzarini noted that while the “attack” was taking place, Israeli lawmakers and other government officials were present, applauding the destruction. Among the government officials present, most notably, was Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir highlighted the operation’s symbolic significance, retorting that such developments were historic in their rejection of “terror supporters” within the region. Nonetheless, Lazzarini added that “the attack came in the wake of other steps taken by Israeli authorities to erase the Palestine Refugee identity.” He also warned that “what happens today to UNRWA will happen tomorrow to any other international organisation or diplomatic mission” anywhere in the world.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres echoed the sentiments of UNRWA Chief Lazzarini. Secretary-General Guterres, in a statement delivered by his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, called the demolition of the UNRWA compound “wholly unacceptable,” reminding Israeli authorities, as he wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 8, that any UN premises are “inviolable and immune from any form of interference.” The Secretary-General urged members of the Israeli administration to rescind the development, calling on all relevant parties to immediately restore “the compound and other UNRWA premises to the United Nations without delay.”

Despite the blatant contraventions raised by Israel’s actions, Tel Aviv has repeatedly attacked UNRWA for what it terms pro-Palestinian leanings and has accused the body of ties to Hamas. Despite the United Nations’ vehement denial of such accusations, on October 28, 2025, the Israeli Knesset approved a bill to prohibit the operations of UNRWA within areas Israel considers under its sovereignty, including Jerusalem.

The new law states that “no UNRWA activities shall take place on Israeli territory,” effectively prohibiting the agency from operating any representative office, providing services, or conducting any activities, directly or indirectly, within Israel. In a statement today, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the demolition was simply an exercise of the legislation passed through its parliamentary body.

Additionally, while Israeli authorities have maintained de facto control of East Jerusalem, deeming the territory to fall within their legal jurisdiction and authorizing the government to exercise legal authority within it, Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq disputed these grounds of authority over the land as “simply not true.” In his briefing to reporters, Haq stated, “UNRWA leased its compound in East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1952. UNRWA has remained in exclusive possession of the compound without interruption until 1967 and continuously thereafter since Israel occupied the territory. Israel’s occupation has been determined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to be unlawful. The ICJ and the UN General Assembly have directed that Israel’s unlawful presence in East Jerusalem must end. The compound is a UN facility, and it is therefore inviolable under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, which all UN Member States are obliged to respect without exception.”