UN condemns Israel for establishing a military facility at the UNRWA complex in Jerusalem

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to establish a military facility within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) complex in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, which Israeli authorities seized in January. ‘Unprecedented escalation steps against UNRWA constitute a violation of the inviolability of UN premises. The action by Israel poses a barrier to the implementation of the General Assembly’s clear mandate for UNRWA’s ongoing operations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,’ UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Wednesday (20/5). ‘The Secretary-General deplores that the escalation actions against UNRWA continue to be unacceptable. He regrets that Israeli authorities continue to take steps that violate their obligations regarding the privileges and immunities of the UN,’ the statement added. The statement notes that such actions, as articulated by the International Court of Justice, are unlawful. Israel has no right to exercise sovereignty in any part of the occupied Palestinian territory and is obliged to end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, as soon as possible, the statement added. ‘The Secretary-General calls on the Government of Israel to revoke its decision and immediately return the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah complex to the UN,’ the statement said, emphasising that UNRWA is an integral part of the UN and that the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah complex remains the property of the UN.