The director general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Lazarini, said that Israeli residents set fire to the UNRWA headquarters compound in East Jerusalem on the 9th. Photograph taken in August 2014 (2024 Reuters/Carlo Allegri)
[エルサレム １０日 ロイター] – Director General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Lazarini said that Israeli residents set fire to the UNRWA headquarters compound in East Jerusalem on the 9th.
They posted on X that they had decided to close the facility until it was safe to do so. This is the second arson attack in less than a week.
“This is a disgraceful situation. Once again, the lives of UN personnel have been put in serious danger,” he said.
The Israeli police have announced that they have launched an investigation into a wildfire near one of the UNRWA facilities. The police said, “According to the preliminary investigation report, it appears that the crime was committed by a minor, who is under the legal age to be held criminally responsible.”
Since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza, the Israeli authorities have repeatedly demanded that UNRWA be shut down, alleging that it colludes with the Islamist group Hamas.
Lazzarini said staff extinguished the fire and there were no injuries. Groups of Israelis have been demonstrating regularly outside UNRWA premises for the past two months, and this week they are said to have thrown stones at staff and buildings inside the facility.
He said a crowd of men, including armed men, were seen shouting “burn the UN” outside the facility.
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