East jerusalem: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a warning regarding the potential end of its longstanding presence in East Jerusalem, attributing this to actions taken by Israel that it describes as 'outrageous.'
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, UNRWA claims that these actions are part of an ongoing effort to prevent the agency from fulfilling its mandate, which was granted by the UN General Assembly, in the occupied territory of East Jerusalem, which is not recognized as under Israeli sovereignty.
Roland Friedrich, UNRWA's Director in the West Bank, highlighted the situation through a post on X, stating that Israeli forces had forcibly entered the UNRWA Jerusalem Health Center on Monday, demanding the removal of UN signs. This health center has received support from member states for many years and has been visited by numerous international representatives.
Friedrich further explained that the intrusion led to a temporary closure order for the health center, lasting 30 days, with the possibility that it may never reopen. He expressed concern that these actions indicate a quickly diminishing UN presence in the area.
Additionally, Friedrich mentioned that UNRWA has been informed by service providers about impending electricity and water supply cuts to several facilities in East Jerusalem, including schools and health centers. He emphasized that humanitarian services cannot function without these essential utilities.
Friedrich noted that these developments come after amendments were introduced in December 2025 to anti-UNRWA Knesset legislation. He cautioned that the implementation of these amendments could signify the nearing end of UNRWA's operational presence in East Jerusalem, which has spanned several decades.