Overview
- Israeli police forced entry into the UNRWA compound in Sheikh Jarrah, cut communications and were photographed with an Israeli flag raised over the site.
- UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini reported the seizure of furniture and computer equipment by police units accompanied by municipal officials.
- Police said they accompanied Jerusalem municipal employees for a debt-collection procedure, while UNRWA said the agency owes no debt.
- UNRWA called the operation a violation of the inviolability of UN premises, noting the site remains UN property despite Israel’s ban on its operations this year.
- The raid follows months of restrictions on UNRWA, an ICJ finding that Israel has not substantiated claims of staff ties to Hamas, a U.S. funding suspension in 2024, and the UN General Assembly’s renewal of UNRWA’s mandate on Friday.