The United Nations has condemned the demolition of its refugee agency’s building in East Jerusalem, calling it a violation of international law.
Israeli forces, accompanied by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, razed United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) structures in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood on Tuesday. Ben-Gvir described the event as a “historic day.”
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini criticized the move, describing it as an “unprecedented attack” on a U.N. agency.
“This constitutes an unprecedented attack against a United Nations agency and its premises,” Lazzarini wrote on X. “The Israeli Government’s claims are false and illegal,” he said, adding that the agency has leased the site from Jordan since 1952.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the demolition followed a 2024 law banning UNRWA operations.
Lazzarini warned that the destruction set a precedent for actions against other international organizations.
UNRWA was established in 1949 to provide services including health care, education, and food assistance to Palestinian refugees. Its operations span the Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Palestinian officials said the demolition was aimed at weakening refugee rights. Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative, said the act sought to dismantle infrastructure supporting refugees and advance territorial claims in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Tensions have continued in East Jerusalem, where Israeli forces reportedly fired tear gas at a UNRWA vocational school shortly after the demolition.
The incident comes amid broader restrictions on humanitarian efforts. Israel has revoked licenses of 37 aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, citing noncompliance with new disclosure requirements on staffing and funding.
Despite a ceasefire announced in October, Israel has limited aid entry into Gaza, a territory of 2.2 million people, and has killed more than 460 Palestinians there.
International figures have criticized the lack of response from Western governments. Luisa Morgantini, former European Parliament vice president, said silence from the U.S. and European Union amounted to tacit support.
Barghouti called for sanctions against Israel, saying unequal treatment undermines global credibility.
“The only way to deter Israel is through international measures,” he said.
