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U.N. secretary-general condemns demolition of UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound, urges immediate halt

United Nations (statement) · January 20, 2026

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Summary

The U.N. secretary-general condemned Israeli demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound, called the site U.N. premises inviolable under international law and urged Israel to cease demolition and restore the property to the United Nations.

U.N. Secretary-General issued a statement on Jan. 8, 2026, condemning what he described as Israeli authorities’ demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound and calling for an immediate halt.

The statement said the Sheikh Jarrah compound “remains United Nations premises” and is “inviolable and immune from any form of interference.” It noted a prior letter to the prime minister of Israel dated 01/08/2026 and reiterated that the demolitions and what it called escalatory actions against UNRWA are inconsistent with Israel’s obligations under international law, citing the United Nations Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

“The secretary-general condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli authorities actions to demolish the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound,” the statement said. It described the demolitions as “wholly unacceptable” and said they run counter to legal protections the United Nations asserts for its premises.

The statement urged the government of Israel “to immediately cease the demolition of the Sheikh Jarrah compound and to return and restore the compound and other UNRWA premises to the United Nations without delay.” The transcript of the statement did not include any response from Israeli authorities or detail of any follow-up enforcement mechanism.

The U.N. statement frames the issue as a matter of diplomatic protection and international-law obligations for U.N. premises. No additional action, response or verification of the alleged demolitions appears in the record provided here; the statement itself is the only source in the transcript.