UN chief condemns Israeli raid on Jerusalem health center, utility cuts

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a sharp condemnation of Israel's recent actions against a UN agency facility in occupied East Jerusalem, labeling them violations of international law. In a statement on Thursday, his spokesperson detailed the "unlawful entry" by Israeli authorities into a UNRWA health center and an order to cut off essential utilities to multiple UN facilities.

A Direct Condemnation of "Unlawful" Actions

Spokesperson Farhan Haq conveyed the secretary-general's firm stance, stating Guterres "strongly condemns the Israeli authorities’ unlawful entry on Jan. 12 into a United Nations property... and the order of its temporary closure." The statement emphasized that the UN chief is "deeply concerned" that utility providers have been directed to cease supplying electricity and water to UNRWA installations. Guterres "deeply regrets that the Israeli authorities have continued to take further action inconsistent with its obligations under international law."

Enforcement of a Controversial Israeli Law

These measures represent the practical enforcement of legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset on December 31, 2025, which effectively banned the operations of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) within Israel. The law, a follow-up to a 2024 act, was justified by Israeli allegations—strongly denied by the UN—that some agency staff were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks. Palestinian authorities reported that the implementation of utility cutoffs began this week, directly targeting the UNRWA Jerusalem Health Centre and other agency buildings.

A Clash Over International Law and Humanitarian Work

The confrontation centers on conflicting interpretations of legal obligations and the role of the UN. Israel asserts its sovereign right to regulate entities operating within what it considers its unified capital. The United Nations, however, invokes the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and international humanitarian law, which it argues grant its facilities protected status, especially in occupied territories. UNRWA, established over 70 years ago to aid Palestinian refugees, maintains it adheres to strict neutrality, and its health centers provide critical services to vulnerable populations in East Jerusalem.