CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, ADDS STATEMENTS FROM EU, DENMARK, BELGIUM, EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF
By Alyssa McMurtry and Nur Asena Erturk
OVIEDO, Spain, Ankara (AA) - The European Union on Friday condemned arson attacks on the headquarters of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem.
On Thursday night, Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter of the agency’s headquarters while staff was on the compound, putting lives at serious risk, according to UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini.
Protesters were chanting “burn down the United Nations,” and UN staff had to put out the fire themselves.
In the face of the “second appalling incident in less than a week,” the UN compound is closed as it restores “proper security,” Lazzarini said.
“The EU condemns the two arson attacks on the UNRWA compound in occupied East Jerusalem on 9 May, which happened at a time of increasing escalation and a growing campaign against the agency and the UN system at large,” an EU spokesperson said Friday.
The bloc called on Israeli authorities “to ensure the security and safety of UN staff and its premises in line with its obligations under international law and to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
It stressed that UNRWA services and humanitarian aid in Gaza and the region are “essential” and “crucial” to ensuring stability.
“We call on the Israeli authorities to take the necessary measures to prevent this from happening,” said the EU.
The Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said earlier on X that “it is Israel’s responsibility to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers. UNRWA is an irreplaceable lifeline to millions in Gaza and the region.”
Belgium’s Minister of Development Caroline Gennez described the attack as “unacceptable” and noted that UNRWA is the “last resort for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in #Gaza.”
“Disrupting their operation, preventing & blocking humanitarian aid endangers innocent lives. #Israel must vouch for security & protection of this UN organisation,” she added.
Spain’s Foreign Ministry on Friday reminded Israel of its “obligation to protect humanitarian workers in line with international law.”
It added that the UN Agency is “essential for the protection of millions of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East” and that its humanitarian work is “fundamental for Gaza” at this time.
Denmark’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack in an X post, and stressed that “Israel must ensure safety and security of @UN staff and hold those responsible for the attack accountable.”
In his statement, Lazzarini said that over the past two months, Israeli extremists have been staging sometimes violent protests outside the compound in East Jerusalem, with staff being harassed and threatened with guns.
While many Western nations suspended funding for UNRWA after Israel accused several of its workers of being involved in the Oct. 7 attacks, Spain decided to boost funding to the UN agency.
Israel’s allegation of UNRWA terrorist claims have not been substantiated since they were made in January 2024.
Many major donors have since resumed funding to UNRWA.
Lazzarini said: “It is the responsibility of the State of Israel as an occupying power to ensure that United Nations personnel and facilities are protected at all times,” and called on “all those who have influence to put an end to these attacks.”