Israeli police raid UNRWA compound, replace UN flag with Israeli flag

Israeli police conducted a raid on the East Jerusalem headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) on Monday, removing the United Nations flag and replacing it with an Israeli flag. The agency's Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, detailed the incident in a post on social media platform X, describing a forcible entry by police and municipal officials in the early morning.

Details of the Forcible Entry and Seizure

According to Lazzarini, Israeli police and officials entered the UNRWA compound located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The operation involved police motorcycles, trucks, and forklifts. Communications within the facility were cut, and furniture, IT equipment, and other agency property were seized. The symbolic act of lowering the UN flag and raising the Israeli flag was a central part of the incident, which the UN official explicitly reported.

Background of the Vacated Compound

The UNRWA headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah had been vacated earlier this year following an Israeli decision, making the compound largely inactive at the time of the raid. The agency provides essential services to millions of registered Palestinian refugees across the region, and its operations have been a longstanding point of contention between Israel, which accuses it of bias, and the international community.

Broader Implications and Diplomatic Reactions

This action represents a significant escalation in tensions surrounding international institutions in Jerusalem and is likely to draw strong diplomatic criticism. For Türkiye, a consistent advocate for Palestinian rights and a major donor to UNRWA, such moves are seen as provocative and undermining the prospects for a two-state solution. The incident underscores the volatile status of East Jerusalem and challenges to international law and diplomatic norms in the contested city.