UN chief condemns Israeli decision to establish military facilities

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns "in the strongest terms" the Israeli authorities' decision to establish military facilities at the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound in East Jerusalem they seized in January, his spokesperson said on Wednesday.



"These unprecedented and escalatory measures against UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) are a breach of the inviolability of United Nations premises. They constitute an obstacle to the implementation of the clear mandate of the General Assembly for UNRWA's continued operations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.



"The Secretary-General views as wholly unacceptable the continued escalatory actions against UNRWA. He deeply regrets that the Israeli authorities continue to take steps that are in violation of their obligations concerning the privileges and immunities of the United Nations," the statement said.