{"id":309582,"date":"2025-12-15T12:01:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T12:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=309582"},"modified":"2025-12-10T07:13:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T07:13:51","slug":"un-strongly-condemns-israels-invasion-of-unrwa-compound-in-east-jerusalem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2025\/12\/un-strongly-condemns-israels-invasion-of-unrwa-compound-in-east-jerusalem\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Strongly Condemns Israel\u2019s Invasion of UNRWA Compound in East Jerusalem"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-story-lead\">\n<div class=\"field-content\">\n<div id=\"attachment_309584\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UNRWA-Headquarters-East-Jerusalem.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-309584\" class=\"wp-image-309584\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UNRWA-Headquarters-East-Jerusalem-1024x464.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UNRWA-Headquarters-East-Jerusalem-1024x464.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UNRWA-Headquarters-East-Jerusalem-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UNRWA-Headquarters-East-Jerusalem-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UNRWA-Headquarters-East-Jerusalem.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-309584\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 UNRWA<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW177538826 BCX8 NormalTextRun\" lang=\"EN-US\">8 Dec 2025\u00a0&#8211;<\/span><em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW177538826 BCX8 NormalTextRun\" lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0The UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that Israeli police raided its compound in East Jerusalem early today, representing \u201ca new challenge to international law.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Israeli police accompanied by municipal officials forcibly entered the\u00a0facility, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">UNRWA<\/a> Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UNLazzarini\/status\/1997985397440172110?s=20\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">wrote<\/a>\u00a0on the social media platform X.<\/p>\n<div id=\"block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_body js-view-dom-id-86c317d7ddc3825298120876d398c03b50ed4d886506c8b386dc86a1b990ef64\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<div class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-story\">\n<div class=\"field-content\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--one-column-text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"_none\">\n<div class=\"w-100\">\n<div class=\"layout row layout-builder__layout\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<div class=\"_none block block-layout-builder block-field-block-paragraph-one-column-text-field-text-column\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text-column field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<p>Police motorcycles, trucks\u00a0and\u00a0forklifts were brought\u00a0in\u00a0and\u00a0all communications were cut,\u00a0he said,\u00a0while furniture, IT equipment\u00a0and\u00a0other property\u00a0were\u00a0seized.<\/p>\n<div class=\"align-right context-un_news_large_credit type-twitter media media--type-twitter media--view-mode-un-news-large-credit\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-media-twitter field--type-string field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=UN_News_Centre&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1997985397440172110&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.un.org%2Fen%2Fstory%2F2025%2F12%2F1166530&amp;sessionId=34f2a4539a47080056f0c6b5b53d799b5663984c&amp;siteScreenName=UN_News_Centre&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1997985397440172110\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The UN flag was pulled down\u00a0and\u00a0replaced with an Israeli flag.<\/p>\n<h2>Israel urged to recognise UN immunity<\/h2>\n<p>UN <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sg\/\" >Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sg\/en\/content\/sg\/statements\/2025-12-08\/statement-the-secretary-general-israeli-unauthorized-entry-the-unrwa-sheikh-jarrah-compound\"  data-entity-type=\"external\">issued a statement<\/a> strongly condemning the unauthorised entry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<strong>This compound remains United Nations premises and is inviolable and immune from any other form of interference<\/strong>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI urge Israel to immediately take all necessary steps to restore, preserve and uphold the inviolability of UNRWA premises and to refrain from taking any further action with regard to UNRWA premises, in line with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and its other obligations under international law.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u2018Blatant disregard\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201c<strong>This latest action represents a blatant disregard of Israel\u2019s obligation as a United Nations Member State to protect and respect the inviolability of UN premises<\/strong>,\u201d\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unrwa.org\/who-we-are\/our-leadership\/unrwa-commissioner-general?__cf_chl_tk=N5oFw_bk0UdTEvg8qmjVtZx9GbuVmy6mY7mYYlQdsvg-1765208786-1.0.1.1-BrzVcsC6lANr8DXkc4s2GHyU4JZ7f_7a_0lzN3PqGvE\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">Mr. Lazzarini<\/a>\u00a0said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo allow this represents a new challenge to international law, one that creates a dangerous precedent anywhere else the UN is present across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>UNRWA\u00a0provides health,\u00a0education\u00a0and other services to\u00a0roughly six\u00a0million Palestine refugees\u00a0in five locations in\u00a0the Middle East, including the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n<p>The agency\u00a0has come under attack following the\u00a0latest\u00a0hostilities in Gaza, which began after the deadly 7 October 2023 Hamas-led assault on Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Lazzarini said the\u00a0East Jerusalem compound\u00a0has been vacant since the beginning\u00a0of the year after the Israeli parliament passed \u201canti-UNRWA legislation\u201d. \u00a0<em>Read more about the laws <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2025\/01\/1159586\"  data-entity-type=\"external\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This was preceded by\u00a0months of harassment, including arson attacks in 2024, as well as hateful demonstrations and intimidation, supported by a large-scale disinformation campaign.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>UN premises are inviolable<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cHowever,\u00a0<strong>whatever action taken domestically, the compound retains its status as a UN premises, immune from any form of interference<\/strong>,\u201d\u00a0the UNRWA chief\u00a0said.<\/p>\n<p>Israel is a party\u00a0to\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/ethics\/assets\/pdfs\/Convention%20of%20Privileges-Immunities%20of%20the%20UN.pdf\" >the Convention on the Privileges &amp; Immunities of the UN<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 the international treaty that \u201cmakes UN premises\u202finviolable &#8211; in other words, immune from search and\/or seizure &#8211; and makes UN property and assets immune from legal process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He added that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icj-cij.org\/en\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">International Court of Justice<\/a>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.icj-cij.org\/\" class=\"ext\" title=\"(opens in a new window)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">ICJ<\/a>) \u201chas also underscored that Israel is obliged to cooperate with UNRWA\u00a0and\u00a0other UN agencies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2025\/12\/1166530\" >Go to Original &#8211; news.un.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>8 Dec 2025\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0The UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that Israeli police raided its compound in East Jerusalem early today, representing \u201ca new challenge to international law.\u201d The UN flag was pulled down\u00a0and\u00a0replaced with an Israeli flag.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":253222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[417,87,865,88,773,2159,3220],"class_list":["post-309582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-united-nations","tag-bullying","tag-gaza","tag-genocide","tag-israel","tag-jerusalem","tag-rogue-states","tag-un-agency-for-palestinian-refugees-unrwa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309582"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":309588,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309582\/revisions\/309588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/253222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}