• Israeli police replaced the UN flag at the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem with the Israeli flag.
• The raid has sparked condemnation and is considered a violation of international law.
• UNRWA officials maintain that their compound is still recognized as a UN premises despite Israeli actions.
• Israel's actions follow accusations against UNRWA staff related to militant activities.
• UNRWA continues to be vital for Palestinian refugees amid severe humanitarian crises in the region.

Israeli police raided the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem on December 8, forcibly replacing the UN flag with the Israeli flag. This incident has been described as a "blatant disregard" for Israel's obligations as a United Nations member state by UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini, who condemned the actions as a direct violation of international law, according to Reuters, AA, and Al Jazeera.

The early morning raid involved Israeli police and municipal officials entering the UNRWA compound located in Sheikh Jarrah, as stated by Lazzarini. He reported that police used motorcycles, trucks, and forklifts to carry out the operation, cutting communications and seizing equipment and furniture. The UNRWA headquarters has not been operational since being ordered to vacate earlier this year, as per Reuters and AA.

Lazzarini emphasized that regardless of Israel's claims, the compound retains its status as a UN premises, immune from interference according to international treaties. However, he noted that the raid is part of a broader trend of harassment against UNRWA, including disinformation campaigns and anti-UN legislation passed by the Israeli parliament, highlighting the ongoing challenges the agency faces in operating effectively, according to Al Jazeera and AA.

The Israeli government has accused UNRWA personnel of having links to militant activities, particularly following the October 7, 2023, attacks which killed numerous Israelis. However, UNRWA has denied these accusations and claimed that they have received no substantiation or evidence from the Israeli government to support such claims, a situation echoed by international observers who stress the need for UNRWA's continued operations amidst the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians, noted Reuters and Al Jazeera.