12 countries and the European Union condemn Israel's actions regarding UNRWA

12 countries and the European Union issued a sharp condemnation of Israel this afternoon, Thursday, following the raid on the UNRWA training center in Kalandia and the seizure of UNRWA facilities in East Jerusalem on August 25. We recall that the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, arrived at the raid despite a warning he received from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Defense Minister Israel Katz that it would be better to keep the event under the radar and that a provocation could increase criticism of Israel.

The joint statement was signed by Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom — all of which are members of the UNRWA Advisory Commission. The statement stated that the countries reiterate their support for UNRWA.

"United Nations premises are protected by the Convention on Privileges and Immunities under international law and must be respected. We call for immediate and full compliance with UN obligations, which allow UNRWA to carry out its mandated activities without interference. Accordingly, we call on the State of Israel to respect its obligations and to cease all interference with the activities and operations of UNRWA without delay."

Regarding the evacuation of the compound, there was no dispute in Israel. The evacuation itself was agreed upon in advance, planned operationally and in terms of public relations. But Netanyahu, Katz, and Saar wondered if it was right for Ben Gvir to arrive at the scene with the forces, which could turn the evacuation into a "Flotilla 2" event, after the minister caused a stir with his video that he distributed alongside the activists. Ben Gvir insisted on arriving, and after it was clear he would not give up, Netanyahu asked him to keep a low profile.

"I am the Minister of National Security. The law prohibits UNRWA. I evacuated them from Maalot Dafna and I am evacuating them from Kafr Aqab," Ben Gvir told Netanyahu. "In Israel, there is a law and I have no intention of ignoring it. By the way, if we don't evacuate, they will attack you from every direction, including from the opposition, and rightly so. We must evacuate them and I am going for it with all my might. They condemned us before and they will condemn us after." Ben Gvir even claimed that after how he treated the activists, they no longer want to return to Israel. "My method works better than yours," he retorted.

In the end, Ben Gvir arrived at the compound with the forces and a crew from Channel 14. But the one who stole the show was ultimately MK Zvi Sukkot, who smashed the monument to terrorists with a hammer. After arriving at the scene, the minister shared a video while wearing a vest of the Magen unit.

"I am sitting in what was the director's room of UNRWA," he said. "He sat here, managed, and thank God on my watch there is no UNRWA, no management, they will not be here. Police, IDF, Judea and Samaria Border Police, Prison Service 'Metzada'. Everyone together joined for a big operation — UNRWA out. And in this place there will be a school for children. Whoever supports terror should be expelled in disgrace. That's how it is in the State of Israel."

After him, Netanyahu also published a statement: "In accordance with my directive and in continuation of the law we passed, the evacuation of the UNRWA compound in Kafr Aqab in Jerusalem began today. The State of Israel will not allow an organization whose employees were involved in terror and the October 7 massacre to operate on its territory and will act against it with all tools."

As with previous Israeli steps against UNRWA, this time too the UN condemned the move. "I strongly condemn the unauthorized entry and illegal seizure of the UN facility operated by UNRWA by the Israeli authorities in occupied East Jerusalem," accused the acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Dr. Raiz Al-Akbarov.