Guterres condemns the demolition of UNRWA headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah: a violation of international agreements
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the Israeli authorities' demolition of a compound belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem. Guterres described the action as a grave violation of the sanctity of UN premises, calling on Israel to immediately cease such practices and return the compound and other facilities to the custodianship of the international organization without delay.
Violation of international conventions and UN immunity
In an official statement, the Secretary-General stressed that the Sheikh Jarrah compound retains its legal status as a United Nations asset and is therefore protected and immune from any form of interference or appropriation under international law. Guterres emphasized that these actions directly contravene Israel’s obligations as a member of the United Nations, specifically with regard to the UN Charter and the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, which grants special protection to the organization’s premises to ensure its ability to perform its functions impartially and independently.
Context of the escalation against UNRWA
This incident comes amid escalating pressure on UNRWA, which has recently faced increasing tensions between the Israeli government and the UN agency. UNRWA is confronting legislative and political challenges aimed at restricting its operations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. Observers warn that targeting the agency's infrastructure is not merely a property dispute, but part of a broader trend that could undermine the vital role UNRWA plays in providing essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees.
The strategic importance of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood
The demolition site in Sheikh Jarrah holds immense symbolic and political significance. Located in the heart of East Jerusalem, the neighborhood is a constant flashpoint and a focal point for the international community. Attacks on UN facilities in this sensitive area send negative signals regarding respect for the status quo in the occupied city and raise widespread international concern about the future of humanitarian work in the region. The United Nations considers the preservation of its facilities essential to enabling it to fulfill its humanitarian mandate and protect the rights of refugees until a just and lasting political solution to the Palestinian question is reached.
Guterres concluded his remarks by stressing that the continued escalation of measures against UNRWA is unacceptable, warning of the legal and political consequences of such steps that weaken the rules-based international order.
