Overview
- On January 28, the foreign ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s January 20 demolition at UNRWA’s Sheikh Jarrah compound.
- The ministers call on Israel to halt further demolitions and to protect the inviolability of UN premises under the 1946 Convention and the UN Charter, referencing ICJ rulings that require facilitation of UNRWA operations.
- The statement highlights Israeli legislation passed in October 2024 and strengthened in December 2025 that bars contact with UNRWA and enables cutting utilities to its properties, effectively preventing the agency’s presence in Jerusalem.
- UNRWA reports that Israeli forces entered its East Jerusalem headquarters with bulldozers on January 20 and demolished buildings, following a January 14 closure order at an UNRWA health centre, actions condemned by UN leaders including the Secretary‑General.
- The 11 countries also urge Israel to expand safe, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, reopen crossings, lift restrictions on NGOs and critical ‘dual‑use’ items, and enable UN‑led aid delivery.