Albanez: The demolition of UNRWA headquarters symbolizes Israel's assault on the United Nations system

SadaNews - Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, stated that the demolition of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) by the Israeli occupying authorities in East Jerusalem symbolizes a systematic attack on the United Nations system and the Palestinian people.

Albanese expressed her concern in a statement issued today, Friday, regarding what she described as a "systematic and ongoing assault on UNRWA and the UN system," following the occupation forces storming the agency's complex in Sheikh Jarrah this week and starting its demolition using bulldozers and heavy machinery.

She added: "I am horrified by the continuous destruction perpetrated by the Israeli government without any deterrent, as the UN and international law are being dismantled brick by brick before the eyes of the world. Attacking UNRWA represents a crushing of the international community's efforts to preserve the lives of Palestinians."

She pointed out that the incitement rhetoric accompanying the demolition process, including statements by Israeli officials, is an additional example of the incitement to genocide that has become alarmingly normalized in Israel, according to her.

She emphasized that the attack launched by a UN member state against an organization authorized by the General Assembly is a serious and unprecedented precedent that calls for urgent international action, especially in light of the temporary measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the case brought by South Africa, and the court's opinion which confirmed that Israel has no right to interfere in the work of UNRWA.

Albanese considered what happened a grave violation of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, and an international crime added to a long record of violations committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.

She urged the UN Secretary-General to call for an extraordinary session of the General Assembly to consider the next steps following these unprecedented attacks on UNRWA and the United Nations in general, demanding concrete actions including suspending Israel's accreditation under Article 6 of the UN Charter and imposing sanctions on it, particularly in the field of arms trade.