Details of the raid on UNRWA headquarters, the confiscation of its property, and the raising of the Israeli flag
Israeli occupation forces, along with municipal crews, raided the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) compound in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem early on December 8, 2025.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem reported that a large number of Israeli forces, accompanied by municipal crews and workers, stormed the agency's main headquarters after surrounding its main entrances at 6:30 a.m. They then detained the four guards inside, confiscated their phones, and issued summonses for the guards to appear for questioning at the police station (Rooms 4).
Details of the raid and confiscation: Raising the Israeli flag
The center stated that the forces stormed the compound using motorcycles and police vehicles, bringing in large trucks, forklifts, and a fuel truck, while cutting off all communications within the compound.
The forces searched the compound, removed the UN flag from the main tower, and replaced it with the Israeli flag. They confiscated furniture and technological equipment, dismantled some metal furniture, and transported it by truck.
UNRWA's position and the Commissioner-General's response
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that the move shows a clear disregard for Israel’s duties as a UN member to safeguard and uphold the inviolability of UN properties.
He added: “Following months of harassment, including arson attacks in 2024, hate speech, and intimidation demonstrations supported by a widespread disinformation campaign, along with anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in violation of international obligations, UNRWA staff were forced to vacate the compound earlier this year.”
Lazzarini emphasized that the compound, regardless of domestic actions, remains a UN headquarters and has full immunity from interference.
He stated that Israel is a party to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, which protects the inviolability of UN premises, meaning they are immune from search and seizure, and also safeguards UN property and assets from legal actions. The International Court of Justice has reaffirmed that Israel is required to cooperate with UNRWA and other UN agencies. Lazzarini emphasized that there are no exceptions to this, stating that permitting such violations would create a new challenge to international law and establish a dangerous precedent for the UN's operations worldwide.
Previous attacks on UNRWA headquarters
The Information Center reported that since October, the agency's headquarters have been targeted by a series of settler attacks. These included arson on two occasions, stone-throwing, threats with weapons against staff, vandalism of property, and blocking staff access with vehicles and black bags, which symbolize "corpses," in front of the entrance.
Previous Israeli actions against UNRWA
In May 2024, Israeli authorities demanded the evacuation of the headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, claiming "use of the land without the approval of the Israel Land Authority." They also decided to force the agency to pay 27 million shekels in "back rent for the years it used the property, considering it a debt owed by the agency."
In early October 2024, the so-called "Israel Land Authority" decided to seize the land of the UNRWA headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem to build a settlement project with 1,440 housing units.
On January 24, 2025, Israel demanded that UNRWA cease operations in Jerusalem and evacuate all its facilities by January 30, 2025.
Following these Israeli decisions, the agency was forced to evacuate its staff from the headquarters, and all operations were suspended, leaving only a few guards inside.
