ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and seven other Muslim-majority countries on Friday condemned a raid by Israeli police and municipal officials who forcibly entered the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem last Monday, calling the agency’s work vital to the well-being of Palestinians.
The incident in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood cut the communications of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and resulted in the seizure of furniture and IT equipment, prompting the agency’s top official to describe it as part of “months of harassment.”
Israel has long accused UNRWA of aiding Hamas or allowing its members to operate within the agency — allegations the UN agency denies — and has pushed to curtail its role in Gaza and Jerusalem.
The Israeli raid on its office prompted foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates to issue a joint statement, calling it a “violation of international law.” The leaders of all these countries had discussed the Gaza peace plan with US President Donald Trump in New York in September before it was unveiled.
“The Ministers condemn the storming of the UNRWA headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, as this attack represents a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises, which constitutes an unacceptable escalation, and violates the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice dated 22 October 2025, which clearly states that Israel, as an occupying power, is under an obligation not to impede the operations of
UNRWA and, on the contrary, to facilitate them,” the statement said.
“The Ministers stress that UNRWA’s role is irreplaceable,” it added. “No other entity possesses the infrastructure, expertise, and field presence required to meet the needs of Palestinian refugees or to ensure continuity of services at the necessary scale. Any weakening of the Agency’s capacity would have grave humanitarian, social, and political repercussions across the region.”
The statement said UNRWA remained essential to delivering food, relief items and basic services in Gaza as the enclave faced an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. It noted the UN General Assembly’s recent vote to renew the agency’s mandate for another three years reflected broad confidence in its work.
UNRWA, established in 1949 under UN General Assembly Resolution 302, provides education, health care, social services and emergency aid to millions of Palestinian refugees across its areas of operation.
Its mandate has been repeatedly renewed in recognition of the absence of a political settlement that would resolve the refugee question.
