London: A coalition of 11 nations, led by the United Kingdom and including France, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, and Spain, issued a sharp joint condemnation on Wednesday against Israel’s demolition of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) compound in East Jerusalem.
According to reports, the foreign ministers described the act as an “unprecedented” violation by a UN member state against a UN agency, severely undermining UNRWA’s operations. They urged Israel to immediately halt all such demolitions and reaffirmed full support for UNRWA’s “vital and irreplaceable” humanitarian role.
The demolition occurred on January 20, 2026, when Israeli construction vehicles razed the UNRWA headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, a site long associated with the agency’s support for Palestinian refugees, the reports said.
The joint statement, published on the British government’s website, highlighted UNRWA’s critical services in health, education, and relief for millions of Palestinian refugees, particularly amid Gaza’s dire humanitarian crisis.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini decried it as an “unparalleled assault” on UN premises, noting Israel’s obligation under international law to protect such facilities. This move contravenes a recent International Court of Justice ruling mandating Israel to facilitate UNRWA’s aid efforts in Gaza.
Over 71,660 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023 due to ongoing Israeli assaults, with aid inflows still insufficient despite recent increases. Critics, including the ministers, accused Israel of systematically pressuring UNRWA, echoing unsubstantiated claims of Hamas ties dismissed by the UN.
Israel has defended the demolition, citing illegal construction and security concerns at the site, part of broader efforts to curb UNRWA amid accusations of the agency’s complicity in the conflict. Jerusalem authorities have intensified restrictions on the organization, including staff detentions and operational halts, fueling global outrage.
This development escalates tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the condemning nations calling for unimpeded aid access to Gaza and respect for UN mandates. UNRWA, established in 1949, remains a lifeline for 5.9 million registered refugees across the region, its East Jerusalem base symbolizing international commitment.
