08.12.2025 22:14
Tensions in East Jerusalem have risen once again. The Israeli police raid on the UNRWA center has escalated the tension in the region to a new level. Following the raid, the United Nations flag was removed from the building and replaced with the Israeli flag. The incident has drawn significant backlash from the international community.
After the Israeli police raided the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) center in occupied East Jerusalem, the UN flag at the center was lowered and replaced with the Israeli flag.
UN FLAG LOWERED
The Israeli police conducted a raid on UNRWA's center in East Jerusalem early in the morning using trucks and forklifts.
Following the raid, it was observed that the UN flag at the UNRWA center was lowered and the Israeli flag was raised in its place.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini reacted to the raid in a written statement on his account on the X social media platform. Lazzarini stated that Israeli police and municipal officials forcibly entered the UNRWA center premises in East Jerusalem early in the morning.
Lazzarini expressed that furniture, IT equipment, and other items at the UNRWA center were confiscated during the raid, noting that the UN flag was lowered and the Israeli flag was raised instead.
LAZZARINI: "THE IMMUNITY OF UN FACILITIES HAS BEEN VIOLATED"
Reacting to the raid, Lazzarini stated, "This latest act clearly disregards Israel's obligation as a UN Member State to protect and respect the immunity of UN facilities."
The UN Commissioner recalled that due to the anti-UNRWA law passed by the Israeli Parliament, arson attacks on the center, and hate-filled protests, UNRWA's staff at the center in East Jerusalem had to evacuate the premises earlier this year.
"A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT"
Lazzarini pointed out that UNRWA's premises in East Jerusalem have the status of a UN facility exempt from any intervention, yet a raid was conducted, stating, "There can be no exceptions. Allowing this would represent a new challenge in terms of international law and set a dangerous precedent wherever the UN operates worldwide."
UNRWA'S FUNCTION AND ISRAEL'S ALLEGATIONS
Funded by voluntary contributions from UN member states, UNRWA has been the main organization providing humanitarian assistance such as food, health, education, and shelter to Palestinian refugees since it began operations in 1950.
The agency supports approximately 6 million Palestinian refugees.
While UNRWA has been trying to heal the wounds of Palestinians for 75 years, its facilities have been repeatedly targeted by Israel, with tons of food and medicine destroyed.
As the Israeli government launched a smear campaign against UNRWA coinciding with the start of attacks on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, it argues that the agency, which has 12,000 employees in Gaza, should be closed due to the claim that 14 of its employees "participated in the October 7 attacks."
Two bills aimed at banning UNRWA were passed by the Israeli Parliament on October 28.
The decision of the Tel Aviv government to terminate UNRWA's activities in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem came into effect on February 1.