UN headquarters building in New York UN Secretary General condemns Israeli invasion of UNRWA medical center in East Jerusalem International Law
The UN Secretary-General strongly condemned the “illegal entry by Israeli authorities” on 12 January 2026 into the United Nations site in occupied East Jerusalem, the UNRWA Medical Centre, and the order for its temporary closure. This is stated in a statement issued on Thursday on behalf of the UN chief by his press service.
The UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Medical Center in Jerusalem serves hundreds of Palestinians every day and is the only option for most of them to receive primary health care. The UN emphasizes that its closure directly threatens people’s access to vital health services.
The statement notes that these actions followed the seizure by the Israeli authorities of the UNRWA compound in the Sheikh Jarrah area, as well as after the Knesset passed a law on the cessation of UNRWA activities in the territory of the State of Israel and amendments to him.
8 January 2026 The Secretary-General has already expressed his serious concerns to the Prime Minister of Israel and brought information related to this situation to the attention of the President of the General Assembly and the President of the UN Security Council.
The Secretary-General is also deeply concerned by reports that UNRWA has been notified that electricity and water supplies to a number of agency facilities in occupied East Jerusalem will soon be cut off. Such steps, the statement emphasizes, could have dire humanitarian consequences.
The UN regrets that Israeli authorities continue to take actions that are inconsistent with their obligations under international law, including the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. These measures constitute a violation of the principle of the inviolability of UN premises and impede the implementation of the clear mandate of the General Assembly to continue the activities of UNRWA in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
The statement recalls that, as the International Court of Justice recently confirmed, any executive, administrative, judicial or legislative action with respect to UN property and assets is prohibited by the Convention on the Privileges and immunities of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General urges the Government of Israel to take immediate action to restore the operation of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound and the UNRWA Medical Center in Jerusalem, and to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential public services to all Agency facilities.