Eleven Nations, Including UK, France and Canada, Condemn Israel’s Demolition of UNRWA Headquarters
Foreign ministers issue rare joint rebuke urging Israel to respect United Nations premises and international obligations after East Jerusalem demolition
Foreign ministers from eleven countries have issued a unified and strongly worded condemnation of Israel’s demolition of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem, calling the action unprecedented and urging compliance with international law.
The diplomatic rebuke, which included Western governments such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Japan, focused on the destruction of the compound by Israeli forces on January 20, describing it as a serious concern for the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises.
The ministers said their statement was intended to offer clarity on obligations to protect UN-designated sites and support humanitarian operations despite underlying geopolitical tensions.
The demolition came after Israeli authorities took control of the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood late last year and began dismantling structures using heavy machinery, a move that the agency and the United Nations have characterised as an “unprecedented attack” on UN facilities.
Israel has defended the action by citing domestic legislation passed in 2024 that bans UNRWA operations within its territory and contends that the land in question falls under its sovereign jurisdiction.
Israeli officials, including a senior security minister present at the demolition, framed the action as necessary under their legal framework and accused the agency of harbouring militant elements, an allegation strongly rejected by UNRWA leadership.
In their joint statement, the foreign ministers emphasised that the demolition could undermine the capacity of UNRWA to carry out its humanitarian mission, which includes delivering essential services to Palestinian refugees and vulnerable communities.
They urged Israel to “abide by its international obligations” to ensure the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises and to refrain from further demolitions at the site.
The ministers further reiterated support for the continued and unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to populations in need, noting that current conditions in Gaza remain dire and require sustained international assistance.
The diplomatic protest highlights growing unease among key allies over unilateral actions affecting international organisations amid the prolonged conflict in Gaza and persisting disputes over East Jerusalem and broader issues in the Israeli-Palestinian context.
While the joint statement stopped short of outlining specific punitive measures, it underscored the signatories’ commitment to upholding international legal norms and humanitarian principles.
The effort to articulate a collective response reflects concern that actions against UN agencies could set troubling precedents for the treatment of international organisations in conflict zones and complicate ongoing efforts to provide relief to civilians affected by the protracted crisis.
The diplomatic rebuke, which included Western governments such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Japan, focused on the destruction of the compound by Israeli forces on January 20, describing it as a serious concern for the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises.
The ministers said their statement was intended to offer clarity on obligations to protect UN-designated sites and support humanitarian operations despite underlying geopolitical tensions.
The demolition came after Israeli authorities took control of the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood late last year and began dismantling structures using heavy machinery, a move that the agency and the United Nations have characterised as an “unprecedented attack” on UN facilities.
Israel has defended the action by citing domestic legislation passed in 2024 that bans UNRWA operations within its territory and contends that the land in question falls under its sovereign jurisdiction.
Israeli officials, including a senior security minister present at the demolition, framed the action as necessary under their legal framework and accused the agency of harbouring militant elements, an allegation strongly rejected by UNRWA leadership.
In their joint statement, the foreign ministers emphasised that the demolition could undermine the capacity of UNRWA to carry out its humanitarian mission, which includes delivering essential services to Palestinian refugees and vulnerable communities.
They urged Israel to “abide by its international obligations” to ensure the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises and to refrain from further demolitions at the site.
The ministers further reiterated support for the continued and unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to populations in need, noting that current conditions in Gaza remain dire and require sustained international assistance.
The diplomatic protest highlights growing unease among key allies over unilateral actions affecting international organisations amid the prolonged conflict in Gaza and persisting disputes over East Jerusalem and broader issues in the Israeli-Palestinian context.
While the joint statement stopped short of outlining specific punitive measures, it underscored the signatories’ commitment to upholding international legal norms and humanitarian principles.
The effort to articulate a collective response reflects concern that actions against UN agencies could set troubling precedents for the treatment of international organisations in conflict zones and complicate ongoing efforts to provide relief to civilians affected by the protracted crisis.
