UN headquarters in East Jerusalem (archive). The UN condemned the Israeli invasion of the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem UN
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the actions of Israeli authorities who on Monday made unauthorized entry into the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) compound in the Sheikh Jarrah area of East Jerusalem.
According to the UN chief, the premises of the United Nations are “inviolable and immune from any interference.” António Guterres recalled that the International Court of Justice recently confirmed that any administrative, judicial or legislative action against UN property and assets is prohibited by the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN.
Details of the incident
UNRWA head Philip Lazzarini said that Israeli police, along with municipal officials, forcibly entered the complex. Motorcycles, trucks and forklifts entered the area, communications were cut off, and furniture, computer equipment and other property were confiscated. In addition, the UN flag was removed and replaced with an Israeli one.
UN reaction
António Guterres called on Israel to “immediately take all necessary steps to restore and ensure the integrity of UNRWA premises” and to refrain from any further action against the agency, in accordance with obligations under the UN Charter and international law. Philip Lazzarini called the incident a “blatant disregard for Israel’s obligations as a UN Member State” and warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent for the work of the Organization throughout world. UNRWA provides health, education and other services to approximately six million Palestine refugees in five regions of the Middle East, including the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The agency’s facilities have come under repeated attack since the outbreak of fighting in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Lazzarini said the East Jerusalem compound has been empty since the beginning of the year after the Israeli parliament passed legislation targeting UNRWA.
International Legal status
Lazzarini emphasized that “whatever internal measures may be taken, the complex retains the status of a UN premises, inviolable and immune from any interference.” Israel is a party to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN, which makes the Organization’s premises inviolable and protects its property from any form of seizure or prosecution. The International Court of Justice also affirmed Israel’s obligation to cooperate with UNRWA and other UN agencies.