Jerusalem Official Condemns Israeli Demolition of UNRWA Offices as Violation of Int'l Law

A spokesperson for the occupied Jerusalem Governorate has condemned Israel’s demolition of offices belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem, describing the move as a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of international law.

Ma’rouf Al-Rifai said the Israeli actions constitute an attack on a UN institution that enjoys international and diplomatic immunity, stressing that Israel has no sovereignty or legitimate authority over Palestinian land, including Jerusalem, or the institutions operating there.

He noted that UNRWA has been operating in Jerusalem and the West Bank since the 1950s, providing essential services to Palestinian refugees, and that targeting its facilities represents a direct assault on an organization established by a United Nations resolution in 1950.

Al-Rifai added that Israel seeks to impose full control over Jerusalem and undermine the resilience of its Palestinian residents by cutting off sources of support. He pointed out that around 151 Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem have been closed since 1967, and that the demolition of UNRWA offices marks an unprecedented step against an international organization.

He warned that the move constitutes a new crime against more than 190,000 Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem who rely on UNRWA for healthcare, education, and other vital services.