Contrary to reports in the media, the Israeli Government does not own or have rights to the property that houses UNRWA's Sheikh Jarrah compound in East Jerusalem.
The Israeli Government's claims are false and illegal. There has never been a transfer of property.
UNRWA has leased the land from the Government of Jordan since 1952. It is now being seized in blatant breach of international law.
The International Court of Justice and UN General Assembly have determined that Israel's presence in East Jerusalem is illegal and must end as rapidly as possible.
Israel has no sovereign rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the application of its laws there is unlawful.
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UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency's area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.
UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, over 75 years on.
UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
