LONDON: Israeli authorities cut off water and electricity to the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees located in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen visited UNRWA premises on Wednesday with workers from the water and waste company Hagihon to oversee the cessation of services.

“I arrived this morning to ensure that the water was cut off from the organization’s offices,” he told Israeli media.

Cohen was overseeing the execution of legislation passed at the end of 2025 to cut off water and electricity to UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem, following a decision in late 2024 to prevent the UN agency from operating in East Jerusalem and Israel.

In January, Israel forced UNRWA to evacuate its main office located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, after which it seized it and demolished it. Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, and Spain condemned the demolition.

UNRWA employs 12,000 staff in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, and its healthcare, education, and social protection services are essential for Palestinians, including those residing in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.