"Israeli forces have raided the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem, seizing items and replacing the UN flag with Israel's flag. In a statement on X, the agency's commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini, said Israeli police, accompanied by municipal officials, forcibly entered its compound in Sheikh Jarrah early on Monday morning."
"UNRWA has not used the building since the beginning of the year after Israeli authorities ordered the agency to vacate all of its premises and halt operations inside Israel. Lazzarini said this follows months of harassment that included arson attacks in 2024, hateful demonstrations and intimidation, supported by a large-scale disinformation campaign, as well as anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in breach of its international obligations."
Israeli police and municipal officials forcibly entered UNRWA's Sheikh Jarrah compound, bringing police motorcycles, trucks and forklifts, cutting communications and seizing furniture, IT equipment and other property. The UN flag was removed and replaced with an Israeli flag. UNRWA had not used the building since Israeli authorities ordered the agency to vacate premises and halt operations inside Israel. Months of harassment included arson attacks, hateful demonstrations, intimidation and a large-scale disinformation campaign, alongside anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Israeli parliament. Israel barred UNRWA over alleged employee involvement in the October 7 attacks, allegations the ICJ found unsubstantiated, prompting the United States to suspend funding and UNRWA to repatriate international staff, severely limiting aid distribution while Palestinians face acute shortages amid the Gaza war.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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