UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that he may refer the Israeli occupation authorities to the International Court of Justice if they do not repeal laws targeting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and return the assets and properties it seized.
Guterres wrote in a letter dated January 8 to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “The United Nations cannot remain indifferent to the measures taken by Israel, which directly contradict its obligations under international law. They must be reversed without delay.”
Last month, the Israeli authorities seized UNRWA offices in East Jerusalem and, yesterday, notified the agency of cutting electricity and water to UNRWA buildings in Jerusalem.
It is noteworthy that the Israeli Knesset passed a “law” in October 2024 banning the agency from operating in Israel and preventing its officials from contacting UNRWA. The law was amended last month to prohibit supplying electricity or water to UNRWA facilities.
