Israeli Authorities Raid UNRWA HQ in East Jerusalem

Israeli authorities raided the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in East Jerusalem on Monday, seizing property and replacing the United Nations flag with an Israeli one, in an action described by UN officials as a violation of international law.

The operation took place at the UNRWA compound in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which the agency has not used since early this year following an Israeli government order to vacate its premises and halt operations within Israel. Police and municipal tax officials entered the building early in the morning, accompanied by vehicles including motorcycles, trucks and forklifts. They detained security guards, confiscated their mobile phones and conducted searches throughout the facilities. Officials seized furniture, IT equipment and other assets, citing unpaid municipal property taxes as the reason for the action.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the raid as an unauthorized and forceful entry that disregarded the agency's status under international agreements. "Yesterday's storming of UNRWA's East Jerusalem compound by Israeli police and taking control, including by...