Yesterday, on January 20, Israeli authorities moved in on the UNRWA compound in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, leveling several mobile offices with bulldozers 🏚️.
Eyewitnesses reported that after the demolition, the UN flag was lowered and an Israeli flag raised 🚩, a symbolic act that drew fierce criticism.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini blasted the action as "an unprecedented attack against a United Nations agency and its premises," warning it sets a dangerous precedent for all international organizations 😨.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the demolition "in the strongest terms," reminding Israeli authorities that the Sheikh Jarrah site remains "inviolable and immune from any form of interference."
Regional bodies and Palestinian groups also voiced outrage:
- The PLO called it a "blatant attack" on the UN and warned it could signal the collapse of the international system.
- The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the move as a gross breach of international law and urged UN member states to intervene.
Analysts say this development risks undermining humanitarian operations in East Jerusalem and straining diplomatic norms 🌐.
As tensions rise, the global community is watching to see if the UN and its members will act swiftly to restore the compound and uphold protections under international law.
Reference(s):
Israel's demolition of UN site in East Jerusalem sparks condemnation
cgtn.com
