ASIATODAY.ID, EAST JERUSALEM — The United Nations has issued a fierce condemnation following the reported demolition of the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by Israeli forces in occupied East Jerusalem, an act described by senior UN officials as a direct assault on international law and the UN system itself.
According to UNRWA, the demolition was carried out early Tuesday using heavy machinery and allegedly took place “under the watch of lawmakers and a member of the Government,” marking what the agency called an unprecedented attack on United Nations premises, which are protected under international law.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini denounced the move as a “new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law,” stressing that UN facilities enjoy inviolability and immunity under international conventions.
“This represents a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law, including the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, by the State of Israel,” Lazzarini said in a statement posted on X, January 20, 2026.
Guterres: ‘Wholly Unacceptable’
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the demolition “in the strongest terms,” reiterating that the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem remains official UN premises and is therefore immune from interference.
“The Secretary-General views as wholly unacceptable the continued escalatory actions against UNRWA,” said a statement from his office, urging Israel to immediately halt the demolition and restore the compound to the United Nations “without delay.”
Human Rights Chief Voices ‘Outrage’
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk echoed the condemnation, expressing “outrage” over what he described as a sharp escalation in actions targeting humanitarian and UN actors.
“This compounds what we’ve been seeing for some time — attacks against aid groups and UN personnel who are trying to help,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the High Commissioner.
The incident follows a series of escalating measures against UNRWA facilities. On January 14, Israeli forces entered a UNRWA health center in East Jerusalem and ordered its closure, leaving staff “terrified,” according to the agency.
In the coming weeks, water and electricity supplies to UNRWA buildings — including health and education facilities — are reportedly set to be cut.
Lazzarini linked these actions to legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in December, which intensified existing anti-UNRWA laws adopted in 2024.
Ignoring the World Court
The demolition also comes despite a ruling last October by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which reaffirmed Israel’s obligation to facilitate — not obstruct — UNRWA’s operations and stressed that Israel has no jurisdiction over East Jerusalem.
UNRWA has previously reported arson attacks on its premises amid what it describes as a “large-scale disinformation campaign” directed against the agency.
“What happens today to UNRWA will happen tomorrow to any other international organization or diplomatic mission,” Lazzarini warned.
“International law has been under attack for too long and now risks becoming irrelevant without a decisive response from Member States.”
Muslim World League Condemns Demolition
The Muslim World League (MWL) also strongly condemned the demolition of UNRWA facilities in occupied Jerusalem, characterizing it as part of a systematic campaign to undermine the agency’s humanitarian mission.
In a statement issued from Makkah on January 21, MWL Secretary-General Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa expressed solidarity with UNRWA and called on the international community to fulfill its responsibility to enforce international law and ensure the protection of humanitarian workers across the occupied Palestinian territories. (AT Network)
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