AhlulBayt News Agency: Israeli settlers stormed the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem on Monday afternoon, calling for imposing Israeli sovereignty on it.
The settlers were led by Yulia Malinovsky, a member of Israel’s Knesset from the right-wing opposition party Yisrael Beiteinu. The intrusion coincided with the Hebrew calendar anniversary of Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Governorate described the raid as an aggressive and provocative act and a violation of international law and UN resolutions.
The governorate emphasized, in a press release, that this was a direct assault on a UN institution operating within occupied Palestinian territory and reflected growing incitement against the Palestinian presence in occupied Jerusalem.
“The raid on UNRWA is a manifestation of the broader colonial agenda,” the governorate said. “It is supported by the Israeli occupation government and targets not only Palestinian communities but also international agencies that provide humanitarian services to refugees,” it added.
The governorate further warned that the attack was part of a systematic campaign to dismantle UNRWA’s presence and erase the Palestinian refugee issue, which it described as a central pillar of Palestinian national rights. In particular, the governorate highlighted UN Resolution 194, which affirms the right of return for Palestinian refugees, as being under direct threat.
The Jerusalem Governorate held the Israeli government fully responsible for the attack and its potential consequences. It urged the United Nations, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini to take urgent action to protect UNRWA staff and facilities and ensure their ability to operate without threats or interference.
“This assault is not just an attack on a UN agency—it is an attack on international law, the United Nations system, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,” the governorate said.
It reiterated that Jerusalem will remain Arab and Palestinian, rejecting all efforts to Judaize the city or erase its Palestinian identity. They also expressed unwavering support for Palestinian refugees and rejected all attempts to eliminate or undermine their cause.
On October 10, 2024, Israeli authorities officially announced the seizure of the land on which UNRWA’s Jerusalem headquarters is located. The site is slated for conversion into a settlement outpost comprising 1,440 illegal housing units, in direct defiance of international law.
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