Guterres condemns Israeli move to militarise seized compound in occupied East Jerusalem

Key points

• In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the Secretary-General said the decision to use the Sheikh Jarrah compound of the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees for military purposes represented “a breach of the inviolability of United Nations premises” and undermined the agency’s mandate in the occupied Palestinian territory.
• “The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli authorities’ decision to establish military facilities at the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound in East Jerusalem,” seized in January, the statement said.
• “Such actions, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), are unlawful.
• The State of Israel is not entitled to exercise sovereign powers in any part of the occupied Palestinian territory and is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence...as rapidly as possible.” Guterres also stressed that “UNRWA is an integral part of the United Nations” and that the compound “remains United Nations premises.” The Secretary-General urged...