Jerusalem: Roland Friedrich, the UNRWA director in the West Bank, has reported that UN buildings in the occupied Palestinian Territory have been demolished by Israeli bulldozers, marking a significant escalation in hostility and attacks on the agency.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Friedrich expressed his concerns on X, stating that the scenes witnessed were the culmination of increasing hostility toward UNRWA over the past two years. He highlighted that these demolitions follow amendments made in December 2025 to the Israeli anti-UNRWA legislation, which aim to further restrict the UN's presence in East Jerusalem. Friedrich noted that the actions taken today go beyond even the stipulations of these controversial laws.
Friedrich described the events of the day as a "dark day" for the UN, beginning with armed Israeli security forces arriving at UNRWA's compound in Sheikh Jarrah at dawn. Bulldozers entered soon after, initiating the demolition of buildings that have been constructed and maintained with donor support over the decades, serving Palestine refugees for more than seventy years.
He further mentioned the presence of high-level Israeli officials, including the Minister of National Security, the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, and members of the Knesset, who were present to witness and seemingly endorse the destruction of the humanitarian infrastructure.
Friedrich remarked on Israel's routine demolition of Palestinian property and homes in the West Bank, actions he views as violations of international law. Today's events, he stated, are unprecedented, as they involve the demolition of recognized UN premises, which contravenes the obligations of all UN member states.
He underlined a ruling by the CIJ_ICJ in October 2025, which explicitly required Israel to refrain from any actions against UN property and assets in the occupied Palestinian territory. Friedrich concluded that today's actions are a blatant disregard for international law and a significant setback for multilateralism, with potential implications for global peace and security.