Israeli authorities entered the East Jerusalem offices of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Monday (Dec 8), raised an Israeli flag, and carried out a raid they said was prompted by unpaid taxes. The agency, however, denounced the move as a violation of international law. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which Israel has long accused of bias, has not used the building since early this year after being ordered by Israel to leave all its facilities and halt operations.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sharply criticised the raid, stating that the compound is UN property and must remain protected from interference. He called on Israel to restore the site's inviolability and to avoid further actions against UNRWA facilities. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned on X that Israel’s actions could set a “dangerous precedent” for UN operations worldwide.

Jerusalem’s municipality said tax officials entered the premises to enforce payment of 11 million shekels (S$4.4 million) in property taxes after repeated reminders and due process. UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler rejected the claim, saying the site remains UN territory despite Israel’s ban and that the agency owes no such debt.

The UN said it had repeatedly reminded Israel of its obligations under international conventions it has signed. An Israeli government spokesperson declined to address specific questions about the raid but repeated Israel’s accusations against UNRWA, alleging ties between the agency and Hamas. Israel maintains that some UNRWA employees were involved in the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack. UNRWA has dismissed several staff members but says Israel has not provided proof for all its claims.

Lazzarini said police motorcycles, trucks, forklifts, and other equipment were brought in during the operation, and communications were cut. IT systems, furniture, and other items were seized. The UN General Assembly renewed UNRWA’s mandate for three more years just days before the raid. Fowler suggested Israel has been running an ongoing “disinformation campaign” aimed at replacing the agency’s functions with other UN bodies.

Palestinians view UNRWA as vital to protecting their refugee rights, including their longstanding hope of returning to homes lost in 1948. Israel, meanwhile, has accused some UNRWA staff of links to Hamas and passed a law in October 2024 banning the agency from operating in the country or interacting with Israeli officials.

UNRWA continues to work in East Jerusalem, which the UN considers Israeli-occupied territory. Israel claims the entirety of Jerusalem as its sovereign territory, having annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 — a move not recognised by most of the international community. The agency also provides education, healthcare, aid, and shelter to millions of Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, and other parts of the Middle East.