Indonesia Condemns Burning Of UNRWA Office In Jerusalem By Israel's Extremist

The burning of the UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem by Israeli extremists on May 9, 2024. (The Times of Israel)

JAKARTA - Indonesia strongly condemns the burning of the United Nations Agency Headquarters for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) by Israeli extremists in the occupied area of Jerusalem, on Thursday night (9/5).

The violence occurred in front of Israeli police in the occupied territories. This broadcast is unacceptable and proves that Israel is responsible for the violence," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its official X account on Friday.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the violence was completely unacceptable because it involved the headquarters of the UN agency engaged in the humanitarian sector.

The burning of the UNRWA Headquarters also created a very bad precedent for building safety and security, as well as UN personnel and other humanitarian missions.

"The incident adds to the long list of violence, illegal occupation, and various violations of international law and international humanitarian law committed by Israel," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said as quoted by Antara.

Therefore, Indonesia urges the UN Security Council to immediately move to hold Israel accountable for the crimes and violations of international law that it continues to commit.

"It's time for the UN DK, especially veto-holding countries, to show their leadership and wisdom for justice, humanity and peace," said the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said Israeli settlers burned twice the perimeter of their headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem.

Although there were no casualties, the fire caused damage outside the UNRWA Headquarters.

Given the second horrific incident that has occurred in less than a week, Lazzarini decided to close the compound until security recovered.

This latest incident marks a second attack on the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem in less than two days.

Earlier, right-wing groups staged a protest in front of the UNRWA office in the Sheikh Jarrah area of East Jerusalem on Tuesday night (7/5) demanding the closure of the office.

UNRWA has faced pressure from Israel on unproven charges that some of the agency's staff were involved in an attack on Israel on October 7 last year by the Palestinian Hamas group.

UNRWA was formed by the UN General Assembly more than 70 years ago to help Palestinians forced to flee their lands.

The agency provides important support to millions of Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and other regions where large numbers of registered Palestinians live.