UNRWA: Demolishing our headquarters in Jerusalem means embassies will be next tomorrow

The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, issued a strong warning to the international community on Sunday, considering the demolition of the agency's compound in occupied East Jerusalem, which occurred on January 20, 2026, not merely an attack on a UN building, but an undermining of the principles of international immunity, cautioning that the repercussions of this event will not be limited to UNRWA alone.

In his official comment on the incident, Lazzarini painted a bleak picture of the future of international work in light of these violations, stating: "What is happening to UNRWA today will happen tomorrow to any other international organization or diplomatic mission," clearly indicating that this threat is not confined to the occupied Palestinian territories, but is a precedent that can be repeated "anywhere in the world" if it goes unaddressed or without deterrence.

The UN official emphasized the legal dimension of the issue, reminding UN member states of their firm and binding obligations under law; international charters stipulate the necessity of providing full protection for UN facilities and respecting their sanctity, calling on those states to assume their responsibilities in enforcing respect for international law and protecting the global order from collapse.