UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned the Israeli takeover of a training center of the world body in East Jerusalem, said his spokesperson.
“The secretary-general condemns in the strongest terms today’s actions by the Israeli authorities, including security forces, to unlawfully enter and remain on the UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem and carry out unauthorized works in those premises. UNRWA staff members were present in the center at the time of the unauthorized entry by the Israeli authorities,” said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesperson for Guterres.
UNRWA is the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
“The secretary-general is greatly alarmed at this development, as it will deprive young people of the vocational education they were receiving,” said the spokesperson. “For over 70 years, the center has supported thousands of Palestine refugees through vocational education and pathways to work.”
About 20 UNRWA staff members, who were present at the center at the time of the unauthorized entry, were allowed to leave, said the spokesperson.
Dujarric said the secretary-general urged the Israeli government to immediately cease interference with UNRWA premises, vacate and return all affected premises to the United Nations without delay, and protect those premises from further interference or damage.
“These actions against UNRWA premises are wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with Israel’s clear obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,” said Dujarric. “Israel must respect their inviolability and not interfere with the performance of their functions.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it is UNRWA’s oldest vocational training center, providing hundreds of students from across the West Bank with free vocational education and a pathway toward greater economic independence.
Also in the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to an aluminum factory in the Palestinian village of Ein Siniya, causing extensive damage to the structure, stored materials and nearby farmland, said OCHA.
The office said its partners have reported an average of over 200 attacks every month by settlers this year, causing casualties or damage, the highest monthly average in any year. By the end of July, more than 1,400 such attacks had been recorded.
“Civilians must be protected and perpetrators must be held to account,” OCHA said.
The office said that in Gaza, airstrikes and other attacks on civilian areas intensified on Monday. Four airstrikes hit close to humanitarian facilities. Initial assessments indicated that UN facilities were undamaged. But windows were shattered at a guesthouse used by one of the UN partners.
OCHA said that the supplies in three UN warehouses hit by airstrikes on Sunday remained intact.
COURTESY: Xinhua
