UNRWA closes East Jerusalem office after arson attacks – JURIST

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) closed its office in East Jerusalem on Friday due to two arson attacks by Israeli extremists. The closure followed a review by UNRWA as a result of its investigation into Israeli allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks.

In a news release on Thursday, UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said the arson took place while staff were in the building. However, it is confirmed that despite there being damage in the area, there were no incidents of damage. According to the statement, a crowd gathered outside the buildings chanting “(B)urn down the United Nations.” Lazzarini posted video footage Capture the arson attacks on X (formerly Twitter).

Lazzarini explained:

This is an outrageous development. Once again, the lives of UN staff were in serious danger. In light of this second horrific incident in less than a week, I have decided to close our site until safety is restored. Over the past two months, Israeli extremists have staged protests outside the UNRWA compound in Jerusalem, called for by an elected member of the Jerusalem municipality… In recent months, UN staff have been regularly subjected to harassment and intimidation. Our premises were badly destroyed and damaged.

A UNRWA worker and eyewitness to the attacks, Mr Fowler, explained that people with sticks and stones gathered to protest while “the police were just in the background”. He recalled the growing tensions in recent months and the “intimidation” by demonstrators and extremists.

The Office of Internal Oversight Services is currently investigating Israeli allegations against UNRWA employees. The allegations led to funding bans from several countries, which had a financial impact on UNRWA. However, after an initial pause in light of the allegations, the EU has resumed funding and increased emergency aid.

The UN said UNRWA staff will continue to carry out their work remotely despite the temporary closure of its office.

Fowler commented:

It complicates our functioning at a time when, of course, we should be fully focused on the unprecedented level of violence in the West Bank and of course the enormous, unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza… We are proud of our work… We do it because we have a mandate from the United Nations system to do something. As long as this mandate is no longer in place, we are not going anywhere, no matter what anyone wants to say.”