Israel’s demolition of structures inside a United Nations site in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday has drawn sharp condemnation from countries worldwide and the United Nations.
Israeli bulldozers razed several large and smaller buildings inside the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound in Sheikh Jarrah. The site previously housed dozens of UNRWA staff before Israel seized it last year.
Reacting strongly, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres condemned the action. “The Secretary-General urges the government of Israel to immediately cease the demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound, and to return and restore the compound and other UNRWA premises to the United Nations without delay,” deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters.
He added that Guterres considers Israel’s continued actions against UNRWA “wholly unacceptable” and inconsistent with Israel’s obligations under international law, including the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
Indonesia was among the first countries to respond, strongly criticizing Israel’s move. According to the Jakarta Globe, in a social media post , Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said it “strongly condemns” the demolition, calling it a “serious violation of UNRWA’s privileges and immunities.”
According to China Global Television Network (CGTN), the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) described the demolition as a “blatant attack” on the United Nations. The PLO’s Department of Refugee Affairs said the move aimed to eliminate UNRWA’s humanitarian and political presence in Jerusalem and urged the international community to intervene to prevent the “collapse of the international system.”
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates also denounced Israel’s action. It called on the United Nations, its member states, and especially countries supporting UNRWA to take urgent measures to protect the agency’s privileges and immunities and to refrain from recognizing any illegal actions affecting its operations.
As per CGTN, Jordan joined the condemnation, with its Foreign Ministry calling the demolition a “dangerous escalation and a flagrant breach of international law.” The ministry stressed UNRWA’s vital and irreplaceable role in serving Palestinian refugees and urged the international community to meet its legal and moral responsibilities.
Saudi Arabia also criticized the demolition. The Saudi Foreign Ministry rejected what it described as Israel’s violations of international law and humanitarian principles, calling on the international community to take responsibility to halt Israel’s ongoing “crimes against international relief organizations.”
UNRWA has not used the Sheikh Jarrah compound since early last year, after Israeli authorities ordered the agency to vacate its premises and cease operations. Israel has accused UNRWA of bias and alleged that some of its staff were members of Hamas and participated in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people. That attack triggered Israel’s war in Gaza, where authorities say more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed. The agency has denied the allegations, saying its premises are protected under international conventions.
According to the United Nations, more than 300 UNRWA staff have been killed in Israeli strikes. The agency is also facing a severe funding crisis, partly due to the allegations, forcing it to lay off hundreds of employees in recent weeks. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini described the demolition as “a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law” in a post on X, reported Reuters.
The demolition follows Israel’s parliament passing a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating in the country and prohibiting Israeli officials from having contact with the agency.
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