Indonesia Strongly Condemns Israel's Destruction of UNRWA Headquarters: Respect International Law!

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the destruction of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem, asking Israel to respect international law and international humanitarian law.

Israeli authorities demolished buildings at the UNRWA headquarters compound in East Jerusalem using bulldozers and heavy equipment, directly supervised by members of the Knesset and Israeli Government officials on Tuesday, UNRWA said.

"Indonesia strongly condemns the destruction of UNRWA facilities by Israel on January 20, 2026 in East Jerusalem. This action is a serious violation of UNRWA's immunity and immunity," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted on social media X, Wednesday (21/1).

"Indonesia emphasizes the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (22 October 2025) which states that Israel is obliged to support the presence of the United Nations in the Palestinian Territory, including UNRWA as a humanitarian institution whose role is irreplaceable, as well as respecting the privileges and immunities of the United Nations in accordance with international law," continued the ministry.

Quoted from CNN, the destruction of the UNRWA headquarters was carried out by police forces together with law enforcement officers from the Israeli Land Authority.

Indonesia strongly condemns the destruction of UNRWA facilities by Israel on January 20, 2026 in East Jerusalem. This action is a serious violation of UNRWA's immunity and immunity.

— MoFA Indonesia (@Kemlu_RI) January 20, 2026

The right-wing Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, who was on the scene, said, "This is a historic day, a day of celebration, and an important day for the restoration of government in Jerusalem. For years, the supporters of this terror have operated here, and today they are removed along with everything they have built."

URWA warned Israel to protect and respect the immunity of the UN compound, referring to the International Court of Justice's ruling last October on the UNRWA operation, the UN agency called for this action not to be ignored and should be a warning.

"Indonesia emphasizes the implementation of national rules and legislation that stop or hinder UNRWA's work in the distribution of humanitarian assistance in the Palestinian Occupied Territories in contravention of Israel's international obligations, in particular under the UN Charter and the Convention on the Immunity and Immunities of the United Nations," the ministry said.

"Indonesia calls on Israel to respect international humanitarian law and international law, including guaranteeing the protection of UN facilities and personnel," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.

It is known that the UN Convention on Special Rights and Immunities, which Israel joined in 1949, explicitly states that UN complexes and facilities "shall be inviolable" and "immune from search, seizure, expropriation, and all other forms of interference, whether by executive, administrative, judicial, or legislative action."

Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war and annexed it in 1980. International law and most of the international community consider the territory to be occupied territory, and the Palestinians want it as the capital of a future independent state. On the other hand, Israel considers the entire city as their "eternal capital".

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement, "The State of Israel owns the Jerusalem compound," adding that UNRWA had suspended its operations at the site and the United Nations no longer had staff or activities there.

"The compound does not enjoy any immunity and its seizure was carried out in accordance with Israeli and international law," the ministry said, calling UNRWA a "glass house of terrorism that has long ceased to be a humanitarian organization."

Israel has long accused UNRWA of aiding Hamas and called for its complete dissolution, a charge the agency has repeatedly denied.

After the Hamas-led offensive on October 7, Israel intensified its campaign against the UN agency, citing the involvement of some of its employees and the use of its facilities in Gaza for attacks on Israel and for hiding Israeli hostages.

At the end of 2024, the Israeli Parliament passed a law banning UNRWA operations in Israel and prohibiting official contact with the agency.

Further legislation in December 2025 bans the provision of water and electricity to UNRWA properties and allows the state to take over land from the agency's compounds in East Jerusalem.

Other UNRWA properties, located in the Kfar ‘Aqab area in East Jerusalem, are expected to undergo a similar process in the near future.