Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), accused Israeli residents of twice setting fire to the agency's headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem, while the institution's employees were in the complex this Thursday (9).
Lazzarini said in a statement posted on the social network Israeli firefighters and police arrived at the scene.”
The commissioner also posted a video of the UN complex with staff trying to put out the fire while people sang. Lazzarini wrote that a crowd accompanied by armed men was seen outside the complex chanting “burn down the United Nations.”
Several videos were posted on Israeli Telegram channels on Thursday, showing fire at the UNRWA compound. In one of the videos, people could be heard repeatedly shouting: “UNWRA is Hamas, UNWRA is Hamas”.
A CNN contacted the Israeli government, but received no response.
Lazzarini pointed out that this is the second incident in less than a week and that the lives of UN employees are at serious risk. He has since decided to suspend operations at the UNRWA compound until adequate security is restored.
This evening, Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter of the UNRWA Headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem.
This took place while UNRWA and other UN Agencies' staff were on the compound.
While there were no casualties among our staff, the fire caused extensive damage… pic.twitter.com/ZqHFDNkiWC— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) May 9, 2024
Protesters threw stones at UN staff and the complex's buildings, he said, adding that “in recent months, UN agents have regularly been subjected to harassment and intimidation.”
“Our complex was seriously vandalized and damaged. On several occasions, Israeli extremists have threatened our personnel with weapons,” she accused.
Source: CNN Brasil
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