NEW YORK, August 25, 2026 (WAFA) - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement that he condemned in the strongest terms today's actions by the Israeli authorities, including security forces, to unlawfully enter and remain on the UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem and carry out unauthorized works on the premises.
He said UNRWA staff members were present at the Centre at the time of the unauthorized entry by the Israeli authorities.
In a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the Secretary-General said he was greatly alarmed at the development, as it would deprive young people of the vocational education they were receiving. “For over 70 years, the Centre has supported thousands of Palestine refugees through vocational education and pathways to work.”
The UN said today's actions were the fifth instance of unauthorized entry by the Israeli authorities into the Centre since May this year and followed other unacceptable breaches of the inviolability of and interference with UNRWA premises in occupied East Jerusalem, including the seizure and demolition of the Sheikh Jarrah compound, as well as the cutting off of the supply of water and electricity services to multiple UNRWA facilities.
It said these actions take place in the context of domestic legislation that significantly impedes UNRWA from fulfilling the mandate in the occupied Palestinian Territory entrusted to it by the General Assembly, most recently in Resolution 80/78. The Secretary-General reiterated his call for the repeal of the legislation.
The statement stressed that the Kalandia Training Centre and other UNRWA premises are premises of the United Nations, adding that they are inviolable and immune from any form of interference.
"These actions against UNRWA premises are wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with Israel's clear obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations," the statement said.
It added that the International Court of Justice, in its Advisory Opinion of October 22, 2025, confirmed that, with regard to the premises of the United Nations in the occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel must respect their inviolability and not interfere with the performance of their functions.
The Secretary-General urged the Government of Israel to immediately cease the interference with UNRWA premises, vacate, return and restore all affected premises to the United Nations without delay, and protect those premises from further interference or damage.
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim, Ramiz Alakbarov, strongly condemned today's “unauthorized entry and unlawful seizure” by Israeli authorities of the United Nations facility operated by UNRWA in occupied East Jerusalem.
In a statement, Alakbarov said the Kalandia Training Centre is United Nations premises and is inviolable and immune from any form of interference.
He recalled that the International Court of Justice, in its recent advisory opinion, reaffirmed that executive, administrative, judicial, or legislative actions directed against United Nations premises, property, or assets are prohibited under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
He said these actions also affect the Palestinian population served by UNRWA, noting that the unlawful seizure of the Kalandia Training Centre would immediately deprive 340 Palestine refugee youth from the West Bank of their right to education, with thousands more at risk of being affected in the years ahead.
Alakbarov urged the Government of Israel to immediately cease all actions affecting United Nations property, withdraw from the facility, and restore its full inviolability without delay.
He also called on the Israeli authorities to refrain from taking any further action affecting UN property and assets, in line with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and their other obligations under international law.
T.R.
