NEW YORK, January 20, 2026 (WAFA) - The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli authorities’ actions to demolish the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound in occupied Jerusalem.
A statement issued by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound stated, “As he has repeatedly and unequivocally stated, including in his letter to the Prime Minister of Israel on 8 January 2026, the Sheikh Jarrah compound remains United Nations premises, and is inviolable and immune from any form of interference.”
The statement read: “The Secretary-General views as wholly unacceptable the continued escalatory actions against UNRWA, which are inconsistent with Israel’s clear obligations under international law, including under the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.”
It added, “The Secretary-General urges the Government of Israel to immediately cease the demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound, and to return and restore the compound and other UNRWA premises to the United Nations without delay.”
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