Members of the Core Group of the “Shared Commitments” on UNRWA, namely Algeria, Brazil, Guyana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Norway, Palestine, Portugal, Qatar, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, and Türkiye, express their deep concern and condemn the further actions taken by Israeli authorities this week against UNRWA’s premises in occupied East Jerusalem. Members likewise express their deep concern about the grave impacts these actions have on the Agency’s ability to deliver its mandated education, health, relief and social services to Palestine refugees.  

These most recent attacks are the latest in a series of unprecedented and systematic measures imposed by Israeli authorities against UNRWA, which seek to challenge its legitimacy, obstruct its operations and ultimately dismantle its work across the occupied Palestinian territory. The actions undermine UNRWA’s UN mandate, violate international law, the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions, and run counter to the findings of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 22 October 2025. Israel, as occupying Power, is obliged under international law to ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and to enable the continued functioning of UN humanitarian operations in line with International Humanitarian Law and relevant international legal obligations.

We call upon Israel to abide by its obligations under international law, including under the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations; cease the demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound; and return and restore the compound and other UNRWA premises to the United Nations without delay.

The Core Group stresses that Israel has no sovereign rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that any application of its laws or claims seeking to alter the status of United Nations premises are unlawful and without legal effect.

In the face of enormous political, operational and financial pressures, UNRWA continues to provide an indispensable lifeline to Palestine refugees across the region and contributes tangibly to regional stability. The work of UNRWA, together with other UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, is essential to confront the catastrophic humanitarian situation and to deliver life-saving assistance and essential services to the civilian population in Gaza, the West Bank, including East-Jerusalem, and the wider region until a just and lasting peace is reached through the implementation of the relevant UN resolutions and the two-State solution. The Core Group of the Shared Commitments on UNRWA reaffirms its support for the Agency and its General Assembly mandate and reiterates its calls for a halt to all attacks and measures against UNRWA.

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