UN Chief: Israeli military base in occupied UNRWA HQ is 'illegal'

The United Nations, through its Secretary-General António Guterres, has unequivocally denounced Israel's move to establish a military base within an occupied UNRWA facility in East Jerusalem. This decision, which saw Israeli authorities occupy the UNRWA headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah in January and now plan to house military facilities there, is deemed "illegal" and a grave violation of international law. The UN spokesperson emphasized that UNRWA is an integral part of the United Nations, and its premises remain UN territory, making Israel's actions an "unprecedented escalation" and a breach of the inviolability of UN premises.

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UNRWA is a part of the United Nations and the UNRWA complex in Sheikh Jarrah remains a United Nations compound. These unprecedented and escalatory measures against UNRWA constitute a violation of the inviolability of United Nations premises.

This blatant disregard for international norms and the sanctity of UN property is deeply concerning. The Israeli Ministry of Defense's announcement that the site will host an IDF museum, a recruitment office, and a defense minister's office underscores the provocative nature of this move. The UN's stance is clear: Israel has no right to exercise sovereign powers in occupied Palestinian territory and must end its illegal presence. Secretary-General Guterres' call for Israel to "revoke its decision" and "immediately return" the complex highlights the severity of the situation and the ongoing pattern of actions that undermine the work of UN agencies.

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The State of Israel has no right to exercise sovereign powers 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.

Israel's continued actions against UNRWA, including accusations of links to Hamas which have led to funding cuts from some nations, are part of a broader pattern of pressure on the agency. The UN's firm condemnation serves as a critical reminder of Israel's obligations under international law and the importance of protecting UN facilities and personnel. From our perspective, this incident underscores the persistent challenges faced by international organizations in upholding their mandates in conflict zones, particularly when confronted with actions that directly contravene established legal frameworks and agreements.

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unacceptable the continuing escalatory actions against UNRWA and regrets that Israeli authorities continue to take measures that violate their obligations regarding the privileges and immunities of the United Nations.