Israeli forces raided the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem, seizing property and replacing the UN flag with Israel’s flag, prompting widespread international condemnation.

According to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, Israeli police accompanied by municipal officials forcibly entered the Sheikh Jarrah compound early Monday morning.

“Police motorcycles, trucks, and forklifts were brought in, all communications were cut, and furniture, IT equipment, and other property were seized. The UN flag was pulled down and replaced with an Israeli flag,” Lazzarini said in a statement on X.

UNRWA had not been using the building since the beginning of 2025, after Israeli authorities ordered the agency to vacate all premises and suspend operations within Israel. Lazzarini described the raid as part of “months of harassment” that included arson attacks in 2024, intimidation campaigns, and anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in violation of international obligations.

Background: Restrictions on UNRWA

Israel barred UNRWA from operating in the country following claims that some staff members had participated in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. UNRWA denied the allegations, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) later found the claims unsubstantiated. Nonetheless, the accusations led the United States, UNRWA’s largest donor, to suspend funding.

The restrictions forced UNRWA to repatriate international staff from Gaza and the West Bank, severely limiting humanitarian aid at a time when Palestinians face extreme shortages of food and shelter amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Legal and Humanitarian Implications

Lazzarini condemned the raid as a direct violation of international law, emphasizing that Israel, as a United Nations member state, has an obligation to protect UN premises.

“Whatever action taken domestically, the compound retains its status as a UN premises, immune from any form of interference,” he said. Israel is a signatory to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN, meaning it cannot legally strip UN compounds of their protected status.

UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization operating in Gaza and the West Bank, providing education, healthcare, social services, and shelter to millions of Palestinian refugees. The agency also represents a critical link to the right of return for Palestinians displaced during the creation of Israel in 1948.

Context Amid Gaza Conflict

The raid occurred amid Israel’s continued military campaign in Gaza, which has caused significant civilian casualties. According to local health officials, at least 70,365 people have been killed, and 171,058 others wounded in Israeli attacks.

Lazzarini called the raid a “dangerous precedent” that undermines the ability of UNRWA to continue its essential humanitarian work. The incident has sparked condemnation from international organizations and human rights groups, highlighting the urgent need to safeguard UN operations in conflict zones.