MALAYSIA CONDEMNS ISRAEL’S FORCIBLE ENTRY INTO UNRWA PREMISES IN EAST JERUSALEM

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has strongly condemned the forcible entry by Israeli forces into the premises of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Occupied East Jerusalem on Dec 8.

The Foreign Ministry, widely known as Wisma Putra, said this include the unlawful seizure of United Nations’ (UN) property and the removal of the UN flag.

“Israel’s action is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, the 1946 UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities, and relevant UN resolutions related to the protection of UN personnel and humanitarian operations, as reaffirmed by the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of Oct 22, 2025,” the ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

Wisma Putra said the UNRWA remains an indispensable lifeline for millions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Palestinian refugees, and Malaysia considers any attempt to obstruct, delegitimise, or dismantle its operations as legally indefensible and morally unacceptable.

Since its establishment, the UNRWA has served over 5.9 million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East by providing critical services in education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid, particularly amid escalating hostilities.

“Malaysia calls on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its persistent violations of international law,” the ministry added.

On Monday, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported that Israeli police has stormed the sealed headquarters of the UNRWA in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Governorate, affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, said police forces raided the headquarters, detained security guards, and confiscated their phones.

-- BERNAMA