Demolition of structures inside the UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem

The Brazilian government has learned, with deep concern,  that on January 20, Israeli authorities ordered the demolition of part of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem. This action follows the approval by the Israeli Parliament, on December 29, of legislation that, among other provisions, authorizes the suspension of water and electricity services and  the seizure of the Agency’s facilities.

Measures targeting UNRWA facilities in the occupied Palestinian territory represent a clear violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. They also contradict the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice of July 19, 2024, regarding Israel’s practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and of October 22, 2025, concerning Israel’s obligations toward the UN and other actors in the occupied Palestinian territory.

As the current chair of the UNRWA Advisory Commission, Brazil reiterates its firm support for the Agency’s ongoing operations in providing essential services to six million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.