Helen McEntee condemns Israeli actions against UNRWA

Justice minister says: 'Ireland fully supports UNRWA and its mandate. I call on Israel to immediately halt all attacks and measures directed at the agency'

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee said: 'Israel must respect international law, including the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its staff'. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The foreign affairs minister has condemned Israel’s destruction of buildings belonging to a UN agency “delivering life-saving assistance” in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Helen McEntee said that the bulldozing of buildings at a UN headquarters in east Jerusalem by Israeli authorities earlier this week represented part of a “sustained effort to undermine” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

The commissioner-general of UNRWA said it was an “open and deliberate defiance of international law” by Israel.

Philippe Lazzarini said Israeli forces stormed the UNRWA headquarters and began demolishing buildings inside the compound.

Israeli bulldozers demolishing an UNRWA compound belonging to the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees, in east Jerusalem on Tuesday. Picture: Mahmoud Illean/AP

He said it was an unprecedented attack against a UN agency and its premises.

UN secretary general António Guterres also condemned the action.

Mr Lazzarini said it followed other steps taken by Israeli authorities to “erase the Palestine refugee identity”.

Israel’s foreign ministry said UNRWA “long ceased to be a humanitarian aid organization, serving instead as a greenhouse for Hamas terrorism”.

Ms McEntee said she was “appalled by the further destructive actions taken by Israeli authorities” In a statement, she said: “These actions are not isolated incidents.

“They form part of a wider and sustained effort to undermine and dismantle UNRWA’s operations across the occupied Palestinian territory.

Ireland fully supports UNRWA and its mandate. I call on Israel to immediately halt all attacks and measures directed at the agency.

“Israel must respect international law, including the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its staff.” Ms McEntee added: “At a time of immense and worsening humanitarian need, the work of UNRWA, alongside other UN agencies, humanitarian organisations and NGOs, is indispensable.

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee meeting Egyptian officials and Red Crescent aid workers at the Rafah border crossing into Palestine earlier this month. 

“These organisations are delivering life-saving assistance and essential services to civilians across the occupied Palestinian territory and the wider region.

“Any actions that obstruct this work only deepen the humanitarian crisis and place civilian lives at even greater risk.

“International law is clear: humanitarian aid workers, along with journalists and medics, must be protected in times of conflict.

“It is unacceptable that they continue to be killed while trying to help others while carrying out their important roles.”