After an arson attack, the United Nations aid agency for Palestinians closed its headquarters in East Jerusalem on Friday.
In a post on the social media platform X, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UNWRA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) said that he had decided to close the compound until proper security is restored.
Reportedly, the attack occurred on Thursday. It appears that the local Israeli residents have set fire to the aid agency's compound. "This is an outrageous development. Once again, the lives of UN staff were at serious risk," wrote Lazzarini.
It is the responsibility of the State of Israel as an occupying power to ensure that United Nations personnel and facilities are protected at all times, he added.
UNRWA was set up to deal with the Palestinian refugees who fled or were forced from their homes after the 1948 war during the time of Israel's formation.
According to officials, the preliminary findings from the police investigation found that the act was done by young minors. When the incident took place there were staff inside the office, said the officials. However, no causalities were reported.
The Israeli government had called for UNRWA to shut down on many occasions since the Gaza war after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
This is not the first time the agency’s building was attacked. According to Lazzarini, a group of Israelis had been staging regular demonstrations outside the UNRWA compound for the past two months and said stones were thrown at staff and buildings in the compound this week.
