UNRWA chief denounces new arson attempt against agency headquarters in Jerusalem

May 15. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Commissioner General of the Agency for the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, denounced this Tuesday a new arson attempt by Israeli citizens against the agency’s headquarters in East Jerusalem. , just days after announcing the closure due to a similar case.

“Another arson attempt last night by Israeli children and young people against UNRWA in Jerusalem. This has to end,” he declared through a publication on his profile on the social network X, in which he shared a video with images of the event.

Last week Lazzarini explained that he was ordering the closure of the office “until adequate security is reestablished” and after Israelis set fire to the perimeter of the office when UNRWA staff and other UN agencies were in the complex. The workers had to put out the fire themselves, due to the delay of the Israeli Firefighters and Police.

In addition, he denounced that there was “a crowd accompanied by armed men” outside the complex chanting urging to “burn the United Nations” and noted that in recent months “Israeli extremists have been organizing protests in front of the UNRWA complex in Jerusalem, called by an elected member of the City Council.

Lazzarini stressed that “it is the responsibility of the State of Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure that United Nations personnel and facilities are protected at all times,” as established by International Law, and called “on all those who have influence to put an end to these attacks and hold those responsible accountable.