OIC Condemns Israel's Destruction of UNRWA Headquarters

The UN flag above the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem. (Source: UNRWA)

JAKARTA - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemns the raid and destruction of facilities belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem, Palestine by Israeli occupation forces.

OKI considers this a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the UN Charter and its resolutions, the opinion of the International Court of Justice, and the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the OIC stressed, "the targeting of the UNRWA headquarters in occupied Jerusalem by the occupation forces is part of their illegal attempts to liquidate the refugee problem by weakening the presence of UNRWA and its vital role, which is proof of the commitment of the international community to the Palestinian refugee issue and the protection of their rights based on relevant UN resolutions," quoted from WAFA (21/1).

OKI also called on the international community to uphold its responsibilities. The organization again called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take the necessary decisions and measures to protect the mandate, facilities, and staff of UNRWA, and to force Israel - the occupying power - to stop its violations and respect its obligations under international law.

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."