Zionist Forces Conduct Operation at UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem
Zionist military forces conducted a raid and search operation at the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Israeli forces conducted a raid on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah area of East Jerusalem on Monday morning.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has verified reports of forces conducting a raid on the compound, during which they seized mobile phones from security personnel on duty. The agency reported that a significant number of forces continued to occupy the premises, effectively cutting off communications and leaving the circumstances shrouded in uncertainty.
The operation ensued after the United Nations General Assembly decisively passed five resolutions related to Palestine last Friday, including the extension of the UNRWA’s mandate.
The Jerusalem Governorate has issued a forceful condemnation of the recent incursion, describing it as a flagrant breach of international law and a significant attack on the sanctity and dignity of United Nations establishments. In an official statement, the Governorate emphasized that this act represents a clear violation of the UN Charter, the terms of UN membership, and specific UN resolutions, most notably Security Council Resolution 2730 dated May 24, 2024. This resolution mandates the protection of UN personnel and facilities by member states, a provision that the Governorate highlighted as directly relevant to UNRWA.
The Governorate reports that a substantial force launched a dawn operation on the headquarters, apprehending security personnel, seizing their phones, and implementing a total communications blackout and perimeter lockdown. Extensive searches were carried out within the building.
The statement described the raid as one incident in a sequence of attacks subsequent to the Israeli government’s January 30 enforcement of a decision to prohibit UNRWA activities in East Jerusalem. This enforcement had already led to the exit of the agency’s international personnel from the city after their permits lapsed, and local staff were not present at the offices at the time of the raid.
The Jerusalem Governorate has reiterated that East Jerusalem remains occupied territory according to international law, with its annexation lacking recognition. The administration highlighted that targeting a United Nations agency that serves refugees is a serious breach of the international framework and UN authority. This action poses a direct challenge to the recent UN General Assembly resolution that renewed the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The Governorate reaffirmed its backing for the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, emphasizing that Israel does not possess sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem—a key region in UNRWA’s area of operations. The Governorate urged the global community to dismiss recent Israeli resolutions, which it characterized as mechanisms for deepening occupation and repression.
In its concluding remarks, the Jerusalem Governorate called for immediate international intervention to hold Israel accountable for violations of international law and to bring its leaders to justice for alleged crimes against the Palestinian people and their institutions.
