Guterres Strongly Condemns Israel's Decision to Establish Military Facilities in the UN Relief and Works Agency Compound in the Near East

On May 20, Xinhua News Agency reported from the United Nations (Reporter Pan Yunzhao) that a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement on the 20th, saying that Guterres "strongly condemns" the Israeli authorities' decision to establish military facilities in the compound of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) located in East Jerusalem, which was forcibly occupied by Israel in January of this year.

The statement said that UNRWA is an integral part of the United Nations, and the Sheikh Jarrah compound of UNRWA still belongs to the United Nations. The Secretary-General urged the Israeli government to revoke its decision and immediately return the Sheikh Jarrah compound of UNRWA to the United Nations.

The statement said that this unprecedented and escalatory action against UNRWA violates the inviolability of UN premises. The United Nations General Assembly has explicitly authorized UNRWA to continue its operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and this action constitutes an obstacle to the implementation of that authorization.

The statement said that the Secretary-General believes that the ongoing escalatory actions against UNRWA are "completely unacceptable." As stated by the International Court of Justice, such actions are illegal. Israel has no right to exercise sovereign powers over any part of the occupied Palestinian territories and is obligated to end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, as soon as possible.