The United Nations has condemned a raid by Israeli police on the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem. The operation, which took place on Monday, was reportedly carried out to seize assets over unpaid municipal property taxes. According to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, officials seized furniture, IT equipment, and other property during the raid. The Israeli flag was also raised over the compound, replacing the UN flag.
The incident has been widely criticized, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stating that UN offices are “inviolable and immune from any other form of interference.” The raid is the latest development in a long-standing dispute between Israel and UNRWA, which was banned in Israel in October 2024. Israel has accused the agency of secretly aiding and providing cover for Hamas, a claim that the UN denies.
However, an internal UN investigation in 2024 found that at least nine UNRWA staffers may have been involved in a Hamas assault in 2023. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Arieh King defended the raid, arguing that UNRWA was not allowed to operate in East Jerusalem, which is considered an occupied Palestinian territory by the UN.
The seizure of the UNRWA headquarters has significant implications, with Lazzarini warning that it sets a “dangerous precedent” for international organizations and diplomatic missions. The incident has sparked concern about the potential consequences for other organizations operating in the region. As tensions continue to rise, the international community is watching closely to see how the situation will unfold.
The UNRWA has been providing aid to Palestinian refugees since 1949, and its operations in East Jerusalem have been a point of contention between Israel and the Palestinian authorities. The agency’s work is seen as crucial to supporting the welfare of Palestinian refugees, and any disruption to its operations could have far-reaching consequences. With the situation remaining volatile, the UN and other international organizations are likely to continue to face challenges in their efforts to provide humanitarian aid in the region.