Overview
- Municipal staff, escorted by police, entered the UNRWA complex and removed furniture, equipment and other property, with the UN flag reportedly replaced by an Israeli flag.
- Jerusalem authorities described the operation as Arnona municipal tax debt collection, and police said they were present to secure the activity.
- UNRWA officials disputed any debt, citing UN tax exemption and asserting the premises remain UN property under international law.
- UN Secretary‑General António Guterres condemned the unauthorized entry and urged Israel to restore and safeguard the agency’s facilities.
- The East Jerusalem office has been empty since Israel barred UNRWA operations and declared Philippe Lazzarini persona non grata, while the agency continues work in the West Bank and Gaza.