Lawyers Syndicate Rejects Militarization of UNRWA Headquarters in Jerusalem.. A Dangerous Precedent

SadaNews: The Palestinian Lawyers Syndicate stated that it is closely monitoring the extremely grave arbitrary measures and unprecedented decisions issued by the Israeli occupation authorities, aimed at confiscating the main headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem, with the goal of converting it into a security and military complex affiliated with the occupation's Ministry of Defense.

The Syndicate indicated that this decision represents not just a political escalation, but constitutes a dangerous precedent and a blatant violation of compelling norms of public international law, as well as a direct assault on international legitimacy and its institutions.

Accordingly, the Syndicate records its legal and rights position on the following points:

First: Blatant Violations of International Law and UN Charters:
- Militarization of Protected Civilian Areas: The decision to allocate land and headquarters of the UN agency for establishing recruitment centers and offices for the occupation's Ministry of Defense constitutes a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Hague Regulations of 1907, which prohibit the occupying power from confiscating private property or utilizing civilian objects and humanitarian facilities for military or security purposes.

- Violation of the Immunity of UN Facilities: This decision represents a direct breach of the "Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations" of 1946, which clearly states in its second article the absolute immunity of UN premises and their properties and assets from any inspection, confiscation, seizure, or any form of executive or legislative interference.

- Violation of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (2024): East Jerusalem is occupied territory, as clearly established by the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion issued in July 2024. The court concluded the illegality of the continued Israeli presence and the nullity of all actions aimed at changing the character of Jerusalem and its demographic and institutional status. Accordingly, any legislation or decisions imposed on Jerusalem, including targeting the headquarters of UN organizations, are legally null and have no legitimate effect.

Second: Humanitarian and Political Dimensions and Consequences:

- Elimination of the Refugee Issue: This targeting falls within a systematic policy aimed at drying up the resources of UNRWA and undermining its mandate granted under UN Resolution 302, paving the way for the elimination of the Palestinian refugee issue and erasing their inalienable right to return, guaranteed under Resolution 194.

- Collective Punishment: The disruption of the agency’s work and its expulsion affects the basic rights of hundreds of thousands of refugees, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and representing a form of collective punishment that is internationally prohibited.

Third: Demands and Legal Actions

Based on the above, the Palestinian Lawyers Syndicate demands the following:

1. The United Nations: Take decisive action to protect its premises and activate legal mechanisms to hold the occupying power accountable for its blatant violations of the UN Charter.

2. The High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions: To bear their responsibilities to intervene immediately to compel the occupying power to retract this decision, and not to recognize any illegal situation resulting from it, in accordance with the outcomes of the International Court of Justice.

3. The International Criminal Court: To include these systematic violations, specifically the crime of "seizure and destruction of property not justified by military necessity," within the ongoing investigations of the court regarding the Palestinian situation.

The Syndicate affirms its commitment to coordinate its efforts with the Arab Lawyers Union and relevant human rights organizations to expose these practices and confront all invalid decisions.