JAKARTA - UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Israel's actions in destroying the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General regarding the destruction of the UNRWA complex, Sheikh Jarrah stated, "As has been repeatedly and unequivocally stated, including in his letter to the Prime Minister of Israel on January 8, 2026, the Sheikh Jarrah complex remains a United Nations territory, and cannot be interfered with and immune from all forms of interference," quoted from WAFA.
"The Secretary-General views the continued escalation against UNRWA as an absolutely unacceptable action, which is not in accordance with Israel's clear obligations under international law, including under the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations," the statement said.
The statement added, "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 sites to the United Nations without delay."
As previously reported, UNRWA said in a post on its website, Israeli forces raided its headquarters on Tuesday, followed by the entry of bulldozers that destroyed buildings in the headquarters complex under the supervision of a member of parliament and government officials.
UNRWA called this "a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law, including the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, by the State of Israel."
Quoted from CNN, the demolition was carried out by police forces together with law enforcement officers from the Israel Land Authority.
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."
Previously, Israeli forces raided an UNRWA health center in East Jerusalem and ordered its closure on January 12.
"Water and electricity supplies to UNRWA facilities - including health and education buildings - are also scheduled to be cut off in the coming weeks," the UN agency said.
"This is a direct consequence of the law passed by the Israeli parliament in December, which increases the anti-UNRWA law that has been in place since 2024," UNRWA said.
"These actions, along with previous arson attacks and a large-scale disinformation campaign, are in contravention of the October ruling of the International Court of Justice, which reaffirmed that Israel is obliged under international law to facilitate UNRWA operations, not obstruct or prevent them," UNRWA said.
"The court also emphasized that Israel has no jurisdiction over East Jerusalem," he said.
UNRWA said Israel's actions should not be an exception and should be a warning.
"What happened today to UNRWA will happen tomorrow to any other international organization or diplomatic mission, whether in the Occupied Palestinian Territory or anywhere else in the world," UNRWA warned.
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