New York, May 20 (Petra) – UN Secretary-General António Guterres
condemned the Israeli authorities’ decision to establish military
facilities within the UNRWA compound in the Sheikh Jarrah
neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, which was seized earlier this year.

In a statement issued on his behalf, Guterres stressed that UNRWA is
an integral part of the United Nations and that the Sheikh Jarrah
compound remains UN property. He called on the Israeli government to
reverse its decision and immediately return the facility to the
United Nations.

The Secretary-General described the measures against UNRWA as
unprecedented and escalatory, warning that they violate the
inviolability of UN premises and hinder the implementation of the UN
General Assembly mandate ensuring the agency’s continued operations
in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

Guterres said the continued actions against UNRWA were “completely
unacceptable” and expressed deep regret over what he described as
ongoing violations by Israeli authorities of the United Nations’
privileges and immunities.

He noted that, according to the International Court of Justice, such
measures are illegal, stressing that Israel is not authorised to
exercise sovereign powers in the occupied Palestinian territory and
is obligated to end its presence there, including in East Jerusalem,
as soon as possible.

//Petra// AK