Amman, Jan. 28 (Petra) - The foreign ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom condemned the demolition carried out by Israeli occupation authorities of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem on Jan. 20.

According to European broadcaster Euronews, the countries said in a joint statement on Wednesday that the unprecedented act against UNRWA by a UN member state represents an unacceptable step aimed at undermining the agency’s ability to operate.

The countries urged the Israeli government to comply with its international obligations to ensure the protection and inviolability of UN premises, in accordance with the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the UN Charter. They called on Israel, as a UN member state, to halt all demolition operations.

They welcomed UNRWA’s commitment to reform and the implementation of the recommendations of the Colonna report, stressing that the agency is a service provider delivering health care and education to millions of Palestinians across the region, especially in Gaza, and must be able to operate without restrictions.

The countries again expressed "concern" over the Israeli government’s implementation of legislation passed by the Knesset in October 2024 and reinforced in December 2025, which bans any contact between Israeli government entities and officials and UNRWA, and effectively prevents any UNRWA presence inside Israel and in Jerusalem, including the supply of electricity, water and gas to properties registered in the agency’s name.

They called on Israel to fully comply with its obligations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in accordance with international law, noting that conditions in the enclave remain catastrophic and that supplies are insufficient to meet the population’s needs.

They stressed the need to ensure that international non-governmental organisations are able to operate in Gaza, including by lifting restrictive registration requirements, reopening all crossings, including announced plans to reopen the Rafah crossing in both directions, and removing ongoing restrictions on the import of humanitarian goods, including items classified as "dual-use" that are essential for humanitarian operations and early recovery efforts.

//Petra// AF

28/01/2026 23:07:27