Following the reported “storming and demolition” of buildings in the compound by Israeli authorities last week, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini voiced concerns.
“This unprecedented destruction represents the latest assault on the UN and the ongoing effort to undermine the status of Palestine Refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and erase their history,” Mr. Lazzarini stated.
In a brief statement, the senior UN official highlighted the absence of limits to the disregard for the United Nations and international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The actions by Israeli authorities last Tuesday, involving bulldozers entering the Sheikh Jarrah compound to dismantle UNRWA structures, led to swift condemnation from senior UN officials, including Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
Prior to this event, on 14 January, Israeli forces entered an UNRWA health center in East Jerusalem, ordering its closure. The agency reported that its employees were “terrified,” attributing the deteriorating situation to legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in December, which intensified anti-UNRWA laws established in 2024.
UNRWA facilities have also been targeted by arsonists amid a “large-scale disinformation campaign” against the agency by Israel, according to the Commissioner-General.
This occurred despite a ruling last October by the UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice, which reaffirmed that Israel is obligated “to facilitate UNRWA’s operations, not hinder or prevent them.” The court also emphasized that Israel has no jurisdiction over East Jerusalem, as noted by Mr. Lazzarini.
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