Headquarters of UNRWA in Jerusalem Shut Down due to Arson Incitement by Israeli Settlers
A group of Israeli extremists launched an assault on the Unrwa headquarters for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem on Thursday, setting ablaze the building's surrounding area. According to the Palestinian news outlet, Wafa, the assailants torched trees and grass on the property located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
Eyewitnesses reported to Wafa that employees of the agency were presently at the headquarters, striving to extinguish the flames and prevent its spread. Despite the presence of Israeli security forces at the site, they failed to prevent the assailants from starting the fires, as per Wafa's report.
Although no injuries were reported, the fire caused significant damage to the property, as stated by Unrwa. Video footage shared on social media showed multiple fires encircling the building, with a crowd of Israelis cheering in the background.
"This is an outrageous development. Once again, the lives of UN staff were at serious risk," said Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of Unrwa, forced to shut down the compound due to the ongoing security risk to staff members of the UN agency.
The attack took place just two days after a similar incident involving the same Unrwa headquarters on Tuesday, following months of protests by extreme Israeli settlers outside the building. Lazzarini called for an investigation into the attacks, advocating for the protection of UN staff, property, and operations.
"Anything less will set a new dangerous standard," he said.
Since Israel's war in Gaza, Israeli settlers have been increasing attacks on Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, with the frequency and intensity of such incidents becoming particularly significant in 2024 and continuing into 2025.
Between October 2023 and May 2025, at least 800 instances of violent settler attacks have been documented by the UN's humanitarian office, resulting in casualties or property damage. A report from Human Rights Watch last month highlighted that these attacks have displaced Palestinians from more than half a dozen communities, completely uprooting some of them since October 7, 2023.
Despite the occurrence of these attacks, the Israeli authorities have taken inadequate measures to apprehend the perpetrators, and the violence perpetrated by settlers continues.
- The media has been covering the ongoing violence against UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem, with Wafa reporting the latest incident involving Israeli extremists.
- The general news is filled with analyses on the increasing attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
- The war-and-conflicts section of the news has been heavily focused on the surge in settler attacks, especially since Israel's war in Gaza.
- The crime-and-justice segment has been questioning the adequate response from Israeli authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of these attacks, as the violence continues unabated.
- Human rights organizations, like Human Rights Watch, have been raising concerns about the displacement of Palestinians due to these attacks, with more than half a dozen communities affected since October 2023.
- The politics surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict remains complex, with protests continuing in light of these attacks on UNRWA and the ongoing security risks to its staff members.
