Demolition of UNRWA Center in Al-Quds Is Erasing Palestinian Refugees’ Identity

IQNA – The media advisor for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) called the demolition of the organization's headquarters in occupied Jerusalem al-Quds by the Israeli occupiers a wake-up call for the international community.

Adnan Abu Hasna stated that the goal of this move is to erase the identity of Palestinian refugees, Shahab News Agency reported.

Abu Hasna said the destruction of the agency’s facilities in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied al-Quds by the Israeli occupiers shows a clear and deliberate disregard for international law.

“Israeli soldiers attacked the UNRWA headquarters in occupied al-Quds yesterday (Tuesday) morning. Bulldozers entered the center and began demolishing the buildings in front of Israeli officials and a member of the Israeli cabinet,” he said.

“This is an unprecedented attack on the local headquarters of a United Nations agency,” he deplored, stressing that Israel is obligated to respect the inviolability of UN premises and the principle of protecting them and to refrain from violating this.

Abu Hasna said this move was taken within the framework of a series of recent actions by the Israeli regime’s authorities aimed at erasing the identity of Palestinian refugees.

“On January 14, Israeli forces attacked an UNRWA health facility in occupied East al-Quds and ordered its closure. There are plans to cut off water and electricity to UNRWA facilities, including health and education institutions, in the coming weeks.”

He considered these actions a direct result of laws passed by the Israeli Knesset in December, which strengthened laws previously passed in 2024 against the agency’s work.

Meanwhile, the United Nations’ secretary-general had no other response to the destruction of UNRWA buildings than to express his usual condemnations.

Farhan Haq, the official deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, announced in a press conference on Wednesday that Antonio Guterres “strongly condemns the action of the Israeli authorities to demolish the UNRWA compound in Sheikh Jarrah and considers these actions completely unacceptable.”

He said the UN chief emphasizes that these actions not only escalate tensions, but also clearly violate Tel Aviv’s obligations under international law, including the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the organization.

Farhan Haq added that Guterres has called on Israeli authorities to immediately stop the demolition process and take steps to reconstruct the complex and return it to UN supervision.

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