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Eleven nations have condemned Israel’s demolition of the East Jerusalem headquarters of the United Nations company for Palestinian refugees, saying it “marks the most recent unacceptable transfer to undermine” UNRWA’s work.
In a joint assertion on Wednesday, the international ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Eire, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the UK slammed the demolition as an “unprecedented act” towards a UN company.
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“We name upon the Authorities of Israel, a member of the United Nations, to halt all demolitions,” they stated.
Israel has carried out an intensified strain marketing campaign towards UNRWA, which supplies assist and companies to Palestinian refugees throughout the Center East, amid the nation’s genocidal conflict towards Palestinians within the Gaza Strip.
With out concrete proof, the Israeli authorities and its allies, together with the US, have accused UNRWA of being linked to Hamas – a declare rejected by the UN.
Israel has used these allegations to attempt to prohibit UNRWA’s means to function in Gaza, regardless of humanitarian leaders noting that the company is greatest outfitted to distribute meals, water, drugs and different essential humanitarian assist within the war-ravaged enclave.
In late 2024, Israel’s parliament handed laws barring UNRWA from working in areas below Israeli management.
Israeli lawmakers permitted amendments in December of final 12 months to strengthen that prohibition, drawing condemnation from UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres.
Final week, UNRWA reported that Israeli forces, below the watch of Israeli lawmakers, stormed its East Jerusalem headquarters and started demolishing buildings.
“This constitutes an unprecedented assault towards a United Nations company & its premises,” UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini wrote on social media.
“Like all UN Member States & nations dedicated to the worldwide rule-based order, Israel is obliged to guard & respect the inviolability of UN premises.”
Lazzarini stated Israel’s anti-UNRWA strikes “fly within the face” of an October 2025 ruling by the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice, which stated Israel has an obligation below worldwide legislation to carry restrictions on the company’s operations and facilitate its work.
“The United Nations, appearing via UNRWA, has been an indispensable supplier of humanitarian aid within the Gaza Strip,” the court docket stated in its ruling (PDF).
Subsequently, it stated that, “Israel is below an obligation to comply with and facilitate aid schemes supplied by the United Nations and its entities, together with UNRWA.”
Name to let assist into Gaza
In Wednesday’s assertion, the 11 international ministers reiterated their “full help for UNRWA’s indispensable mission” to supply companies and humanitarian assist within the occupied Palestinian territory, together with East Jerusalem.
“UNRWA is a service supplier delivering healthcare and training to thousands and thousands of Palestinians throughout the area, significantly in Gaza, and should be capable to function with out restrictions,” they stated.
The ministers additionally referred to as on Israel to facilitate assist deliveries to Gaza, the place not less than 71,660 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli assaults since October 2023.
“Regardless of the rise in assist getting into Gaza, situations stay dire, and provide is insufficient for the wants of the inhabitants,” the assertion learn.
Because the occupying energy in Gaza, Israel has an obligation below worldwide legislation to make sure the wants of the occupied inhabitants are met.
The Israeli authorities additionally agreed below a US-brokered ceasefire deal, which got here into impact in October, to permit 600 vans of humanitarian assist into the Palestinian territory every day. However it has failed to stick to that tenet of the settlement.
No less than 492 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli assaults because the ceasefire started, in accordance with the most recent figures from the enclave’s Well being Ministry.
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