UNRWA: Israel orders us to evacuate our headquarters to expand its settlements

UNRWA said in a statement today that the Israeli occupation forced it to evacuate all its headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem and stop its operations there by January 30.

The agency stressed in its statement that what Israel is doing is inconsistent with its obligations under international law, as it is a signatory to the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

It added: Israel must respect the immunities of the United Nations, including UN buildings.

UNRWA said that Israel's claims that Israel does not have the right to occupy headquarters in East Jerusalem are baseless, and this puts the agency's headquarters at risk.

UNRWA said that Israel's goal in evacuating UNRWA from its headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood is to expand Israel's settlements, which is illegal.