At approximately midday today, a group of Israelis led by a Member of Knesset and accompanied by Israeli media entered without authorisation into UNRWA's compound in Sheikh Jarrah, EastJerusalem .
The group asserted they were "liberating" the "former UNRWA headquarters" on the occasion of Jerusalem Day, which for Israelis marks the reunification of the city. However, under international law, East Jerusalem is occupied territory and its annexation by the State of Israel is not recognised.
The group brought flags and erected banners, seeking to claim the compound for the establishment of a new Israeli neighbourhood. Israeli police, alerted to the scene, failed to protect the inviolability of the UN premises.
Following months of aggravated harassment directed towards the site and the entry into force of two anti-UNRWA Knesset laws in January 2025, UNRWA was forced to vacate the compound and withdraw under protest all its international staff.
This unauthorised entry represents another violation of Israel's obligations as a UN member state to protect UN premises and facilitate humanitarian work. UNRWA condemns today's illegal provocation.
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, nearly 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.
