The forced closure of a United Nations-run health clinic in East Jerusalem has sparked serious concerns over an escalating disregard for international law, UN officials warned this week. On Monday, Israeli forces entered the UNRWA-operated Jerusalem Health Centre and ordered it to shut down for 30 days, while also demanding the removal of United Nations signage from the premises.
The situation is set to worsen in the coming weeks, as water and electricity supplies to several UNRWA facilities are scheduled to be cut. The planned shutdowns would affect schools, health centres and other essential buildings, further disrupting services for Palestine refugees in the city.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the move as part of a broader legislative and political campaign targeting the agency. In a public statement, he said the incident represents “a new step in a pattern of deliberate disregard for international law and the United Nations,” linking it directly to legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in December that strengthened earlier anti-UNRWA laws adopted in 2024.
The Jerusalem Health Centre plays a vital role for the local refugee population, serving hundreds of patients every day. UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler told UN News that for many of those patients, the clinic is their only access point to primary healthcare. He emphasized that the closure directly affects the right to health and that UNRWA facilities are United Nations premises protected under international law, a protection that applies worldwide.
Mr. Fowler also condemned the planned cuts to water and electricity, calling them deeply troubling and characterizing them as an “anti-humanitarian gesture.” He recalled that in October, the International Court of Justice reaffirmed that Israel is legally obligated to facilitate UNRWA’s operations, not obstruct them. Despite this clear ruling, he said, restrictions on the agency’s work continue to intensify.
Beyond the immediate impact on patients and staff in East Jerusalem, Mr. Fowler warned of far-reaching consequences. He described the actions as disgraceful and stressed the importance of global awareness, noting that the issue extends well beyond UNRWA alone. According to him, the repeated undermining of international legal protections sets a dangerous precedent with potential global implications, threatening the integrity of humanitarian operations worldwide.
