JERUSALEM, January 13, 2026 (WAFA) – The Jerusalem Governorate reported that Israeli occupation authorities have approved practical steps to implement a law cutting off electricity and water to UNRWA buildings in occupied Jerusalem. They have begun sending official notices in preparation for implementation, in a new escalation targeting the agency's presence and its vital institutions within the city.

A brief statement issued by the Governorate on Monday evening indicated that notices to cut off electricity to UNRWA buildings located within the separation wall were delivered by the Israeli Electric Corporation. Implementation is scheduled to begin in 15 days, based on a law passed by the Knesset on December 31 of last year.

The Governorate added that the Israeli company Gihon also sent separate notices to stop supplying water to properties occupied by the agency in Jerusalem.

Initial assessments revealed that these measures affected ten UNRWA buildings, including schools, clinics, training centers, and administrative offices, among them the agency's main office in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. This threatens serious repercussions for the educational, health, and relief services provided to Palestinian refugees in the city.

The Jerusalem Governorate indicated that the Israeli Knesset had given final approval to this law at the end of last December in its second and third readings, by a vote of 59 to 7. This move constitutes a clear violation of the UN Charter, international law, and resolutions of international legitimacy, most notably General Assembly Resolution 302, which established UNRWA to ensure the provision of services to Palestinian refugees until a just solution to their plight is reached.

K.T