United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a forceful condemnation of Israel’s demolition of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The Tuesday operation, conducted by Israeli bulldozers, targeted the compound belonging to the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugee assistance.
Guterres characterized the demolition as “escalatory actions” that directly contravene Israel’s obligations under international law, including the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. The Secretary-General emphasized that UN premises remain “inviolable and immune from any form of interference” and demanded immediate restoration of the compound to UN control.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini clarified that contrary to Israeli claims, the government holds no legal rights to the property housing the agency’s East Jerusalem compound. The incident has drawn sharp international criticism, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan jointly denouncing the action as a “perilous escalation and brazen breach of international law.”
The demolition occurs against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in Gaza, where Hamas has submitted a political memorandum to mediators highlighting continued violations of the ceasefire agreement enacted October 10. According to the document, 483 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began, including 169 children and 64 women.
Analyst Arhama Siddiqa of Pakistan’s Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad noted the concerning timing of these developments alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s acceptance of a position on former US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. Siddiqa warned that “unilateral measures continue to reshape facts on the ground faster than diplomacy can respond,” potentially undermining prospects for a viable political solution to the Palestinian conflict.