11 Western countries condemn Israeli occupation’s demolition of UNRWA headquarters in occupied Jerusalem

OCCUPIED PALESTINE, Jan. 29 (YPA) – The Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom condemned the demolition carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Jerusalem on January 20.

In a joint statement issued yesterday, the countries considered this unprecedented demolition by a UN member state to be an unacceptable escalation aimed at undermining UNRWA’s ability to carry out its humanitarian tasks.

They urged the Israeli occupation to respect its international obligations, including the protection of UN premises in accordance with the 1946 UN Convention and its Charter.

The countries affirmed their continued support for UNRWA’s role in providing essential services and humanitarian relief to Palestinians in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, noting the need to allow the agency to continue its work without restrictions.

In addition, they also expressed concern about recent Israeli legislation preventing UNRWA from operating within Israel and Jerusalem, and called for facilitating humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, reopening crossings, and lifting restrictions on the import of humanitarian goods.