LONDON: Jordan condemned an Israeli police raid on the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday, calling it a violation of international law.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs, Ambassador Fuad Majali, said that Jordan rejects Israel’s systematic efforts to limit the operations of UNRWA and undermine its essential role in providing crucial services to Palestinian refugees.
Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of UNRWA, said that Israeli police, along with municipal officials, forcibly entered the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem.
“Police motorcycles, as well as trucks and forklifts, were brought in and all communications were cut. Furniture, IT equipment and other property was seized. The UN flag was pulled down and replaced with an Israeli flag,” Lazzarini said in a statement.
He added that any actions taken by Israel do not affect the compound’s status as a UN site, which is immune to interference.
Majali said that Israeli measures aim to undermine UNRWA’s significance, as the agency supports the right of Palestinian refugees to return and receive compensation in accordance with international law.
He urged the international community to address Israeli actions targeting UNRWA and ensure the essential political and financial support needed for its services to Palestinian refugees.
The Jordanian ministry on Monday also condemned statements made by extremist Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who reiterated his rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state.
It said that Israel does not hold sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. The expansion of Israeli settlements undermines the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination, the end of the occupation and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, the ministry added, according to Petra news agency.
