Israeli Forces Demolish UNRWA Facilities In East Jerusalem, Belgium Condemns

Israeli forces demolished UNRWA facilities in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, including the UNRWA headquarters complex in Sheikh Jarrah, while also firing tear gas at a vocational school in Qalandia. Radio-Canada reported that teams began demolishing UNRWA offices in Sheikh Jarrah and that Israeli forces confiscated equipment and expelled private security guards hired to protect the site. UN News said the UN Secretary-General’s deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, stated that the UNRWA complex in Sheikh Jarrah “remains United Nations property and is inviolable and protected from any interference.” Anadolu Ajansı reported that Belgium’s Foreign Minister Aysu Biçer condemned the demolition as a “flagrant violation of international law.”

“Israeli occupation forces demolished Palestinian facilities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, on Tuesday, while at the same time an Israeli settler armed with his weapon stormed a high school near Jenin”

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UN News quoted UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini describing the demolition as an “unprecedented attack” against the UN, warning that “This must serve as a warning.” Radio-Canada said Israeli leaders celebrated the demolition, with the National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling the day “historic.” Radio-Canada also reported that the Israeli Foreign Ministry emphasized the demolition complied with a new law banning UNRWA, noting that Israel owns the site and rejecting the agency’s claims that this action violated international law. In the same reporting, Radio-Canada said UNRWA director for the West Bank Roland Friedrich told the agency had been informed early Tuesday morning of demolition crews and police arriving at its East Jerusalem headquarters.

UN News said the UN expects that, in the coming weeks, water and electricity supplies to UNRWA facilities used for health care and education are expected to be cut. It also said the UN Secretary-General urged Israel to “immediately halt the demolition” and to return and restore the UNRWA complex and other premises. Anadolu Ajansı reported that Belgium’s Foreign Minister Aysu Biçer said discussions with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa had focused on the Palestinian Authority’s role in stabilizing and rebuilding Gaza and on a common objective to fight terrorism, while warning the situation remained fragile. Radio-Canada reported that UNRWA provides aid and services to about 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and to 3 million other refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

“Israeli occupation forces demolished Palestinian facilities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, today, Tuesday, while an Israeli settler armed with a weapon stormed a high school near Jenin”

Al-Jazeera Net