Head Of UNRWA Condemns Israeli Attack On Its Organization Headquarters And Lowering UN Flags In East Jerusalem

UNRWA Secretary General Philippe Lazzarini. (Twitter/@DohaForum)

JAKARTA - UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on Monday condemned Israel's attack on UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem and the replacement of the UN flag with the Israeli flag.

In a tweet on X Lazzarini's social media, Israeli police accompanied by city officials forcibly entered the UNRWA complex within Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem.

"Police motorbikes, as well as trucks and forklifts, were deployed and all communications were cut off. Furniture, IT equipment, and other properties were confiscated. The UN flag was lowered and replaced with the Israeli flag," he explained, quoted from WAFA (9/12).

He added that this action follows "months of harassment that includes arson attacks in 2024, hateful demonstrations and intimidation, which are supported by large-scale disinformation campaigns, as well as anti-UNRWAT laws passed by the Israeli parliament that violate its international obligations."

Lazzarini denounced this action as "a blatant appeal to Israel's obligations as a United Nations Member State to protect and respect UN human rights that cannot be contested."

He further revealed, "UNRWA personnel were forced to vacate the compound earlier this year."

He stressed, "Whatever action is taken domestically, the complex retains its status as a UN complex, immune from any form of interference."

The UNRWA chief warned, "Israel is a party to the United Nations Convention on Special Rights and Immunity. The Convention renders the UN complex inviolable - in other words, immune from searches and/or confiscations - and makes property and assets of the United Nations immune from legal proceedings."

He added, "The International Court has also underlined that Israel is obliged to cooperate with UNRWA and other UN agencies."

"Letting this be a new challenge for international law, which creates dangerous precedents wherever the UN is present around the world," he concluded.