The Brazilian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), condemned this Thursday (22) the demolition, by order of Israeli authorities, of the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in East Jerusalem. The place is considered Palestinian territory.
“Measures that violate UNRWA facilities in the occupied Palestinian territory constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. They also contravene the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice of 19/7/2024, on Israel’s practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and of 22/10/2025, on Israel’s obligations towards the UN and other actors in the territory occupied Palestinian”, said Itamaraty, in a statement.
The demolition began on Tuesday (20) and follows the approval, by the Israeli parliament, at the end of last year, of legislation that authorized the cutting of water and electricity supplies in the building, as well as allowing the expropriation of the UN agency’s properties.
In a statement on social media, UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini described the demolition as an “unprecedented attack” against the United Nations, whose facilities are protected by international law.
Itamaraty also informed that, as president of the UNRWA Consultative Commission, it continues to support the continuity of the agency’s activities in providing essential services to 6 million Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
According to the head of the agency, UNRWA facilities have already been the target of arson amid a “large-scale disinformation campaign” promoted by Israel.
The attacks occurred despite a decision made by the International Court of Justice in October last year, which reaffirmed that Israel was obliged to “facilitate operations” there, and that the Jewish State has no jurisdiction over East Jerusalem.
