The action, reportedly carried out “under the watch of lawmakers and a member of the Government”, has drawn strong criticism from senior UN officials, who say it represents a grave escalation.
UNRWA Commissioner‑General Philippe Lazzarini described the incident as an “unprecedented attack” on the UN, noting that all UN premises are protected under international law. He warned that the operation amounted to “a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law, including of the privileges and immunities of the UN, by the State of Israel.”
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres condemned the demolition “in the strongest terms”, reiterating that the compound remains UN property and is “inviolable and immune from any form of interference.” He called on Israel to halt the demolition and restore the facilities to the United Nations “without delay.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also voiced deep concern. His Spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, said the latest incident “compounds what we’ve been seeing for a while; attacking aid groups and UN actors who are trying to help.”
Tensions have been rising in recent weeks. On January 14, Israeli forces entered an UNRWA health centre in East Jerusalem and ordered it to close, leaving staff “terrified,” according to the agency. Water and electricity supplies to multiple UNRWA sites, including clinics and schools, are reportedly scheduled to be cut in the coming weeks.
Lazzarini said these actions stem from new legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in December, expanding earlier anti‑UNRWA laws adopted in 2024.
UNRWA has faced arson attacks on its premises in recent months, which the Commissioner‑General attributes to a “large‑scale disinformation campaign” against the agency by Israel.
He recalled that in October, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel is obligated “to facilitate UNRWA’s operations, not hinder or prevent them.” The Court also reaffirmed that Israel has no jurisdiction over East Jerusalem.
Lazzarini warned that the implications of Tuesday’s demolition go far beyond the UN agency itself. “What happens today to UNRWA will happen tomorrow to any other international organisation or diplomatic mission, whether in the Occupied Palestinian Territory or anywhere around the world,” he said.
He cautioned that international law is “at risk of irrelevancy in the absence of response by Member States.”
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
