Israeli authorities stormed the East Jerusalem offices of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Monday and raised the Israeli flag over the compound, according to Reuters.
Israeli officials justified this move as a tax-enforcement action. However, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency condemned Israel’s unauthorized entry, describing it as a direct challenge to international law.
Halting UNRWA’s Activities
Since the beginning of the year, UNRWA has not used the building following Israel’s orders to vacate all its premises and cease its operations.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the raid.
“I urge Israel to immediately take all necessary steps to restore, preserve and uphold the inviolability of UNRWA premises and to refrain from taking any further action with regard to UNRWA premises,” Guterres said.
Today in the early morning, Israeli police accompanied by municipal officials forcibly entered the @UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem. Police motorcycles, as well as trucks & forklifts, were brought in & all communications were cut. Furniture, IT equipment & other property was…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) December 8, 2025
Moreover, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X that the move by Israel could create “a dangerous precedent anywhere else the UN is present across the world.”
Unpaid Property Taxes
The Jerusalem Municipality said tax collectors had entered the UNRWA compound due to unpaid property taxes of 11 million shekels ($3.4 million) and they have already issued multiple warnings and taken all necessary procedures.
“This is a substantial debt that required collection after repeated requests, warnings and numerous opportunities given to settle it, which were not answered,” it told Reuters.
In response, UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler stated that the agency had no debts to the municipality. He also clarified that the East Jerusalem compound remained UN premises even after the Israeli authorities have halted its operations.
Fowler added that the UN has repeatedly communicated with Israeli authorities to remind them of their obligations under a UN convention to which Israel is a signatory.
Disinformation Campaign
“Police motorcycles, as well as trucks & forklifts, were brought in & all communications were cut. Furniture, IT equipment & other property was seized. The UN flag was pulled down & replaced with an Israeli flag,” Lazzarini said.
He added that Israel has been launching a “sustained disinformation campaign” against agency, claiming that Israeli government wants other UN bodies to take over UNRWA’s responsibilities.
Israel also alleged that some UNRWA staff were members of the Palestinian group Hamas and were involved in Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Related Topics:
Saudi Embassy in Jordan Provides Financial Aid to UNRWA
Gaza Crisis: UNRWA Warns Nearly 55,000 Children Face Acute Malnutrition
Saudi Arabia Condemns Israel’s Attack on UNRWA School
