Overview
- Israeli forces with bulldozers entered UNRWA’s Sheikh Jarrah compound on January 20 and demolished buildings, with UNRWA later reporting the site was also set on fire.
- Foreign ministers from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom called the move an unprecedented act and urged Israel to halt all demolitions.
- UN Secretary‑General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned the demolitions, while UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini described them as a deliberate defiance of international law.
- The International Court of Justice has stated Israel must facilitate UNRWA’s operations and noted Israel lacks jurisdiction over East Jerusalem, reinforcing protections for UN facilities under the 1946 UN convention.
- The ministers criticized Knesset laws from 2024 and 2025 that restrict UNRWA’s presence and utilities, and pressed Israel to expand humanitarian access to Gaza by reopening crossings and lifting curbs on essential ‘dual‑use’ items.