UNRWA Chief Dismisses Israeli Claims Over East Jerusalem Compound

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has rejected Israel’s claim of ownership over the Sheikh Jarrah compound in occupied East Jerusalem, insisting the site does not legally belong to the Israeli government.

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), said on Tuesday that Israel has no lawful rights to the compound, describing the ownership claims as “false and illegal.”

In a post on X, Lazzarini explained that UNRWA has leased the land from the Jordanian government since 1952 and that no transfer of ownership has ever occurred. He added that any attempt to assert Israeli ownership amounts to an unlawful seizure.

Lazzarini further cited international legal rulings, noting that both the International Court of Justice and the UN General Assembly have determined Israel’s presence in East Jerusalem to be illegal and have called for it to end as swiftly as possible.

“Israel has no sovereign rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the application of its laws there is unlawful,” he said.

The comments come amid mounting pressure on UNRWA operations in East Jerusalem. Last month, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed a law authorising the suspension of electricity and water supplies to UNRWA facilities in the city.

Israel has previously taken action against the agency. In 2024, the Knesset enacted legislation banning UNRWA’s activities in Israel, citing allegations that some staff members were linked to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. UNRWA has denied the accusations, while the United Nations maintains that the agency operates under strict neutrality standards.